🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly 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 Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.