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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only create a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.