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The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards 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 registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to create other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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