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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up 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, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their seats.