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The count of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to put the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their wards.