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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

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 public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

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

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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