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The number of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be cut by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years building local support and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the current administration 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 alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

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