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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.