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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.