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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established 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 public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

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

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to create different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

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