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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

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.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish other types of wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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