🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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