🔗 Share this article

The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be cut by more than half, following a divisive law change that required local governments to put the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward 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 keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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 ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

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

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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