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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish 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 alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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