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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be cut by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

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