🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed 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 only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

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

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to retain their seats.