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The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

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 mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties however have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.