🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only create a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.