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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, after a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

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

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

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 skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.