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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member 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 area. Communities frequently spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the government 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 keep their wards.