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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by over 50%, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed 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 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 recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to create other types of wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to keep their wards.