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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement concerned the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.