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The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that required local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.