🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had created a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.