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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years building local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.