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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

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

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their seats.