🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities 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, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their seats.