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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results 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 rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their seats.