🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government 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, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

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

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

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 participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.