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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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