🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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