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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

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

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create different wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.