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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by over 50%, following a controversial law change that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple 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 create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils 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 introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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