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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities 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.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often spent years building community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing 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

This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

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