🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.