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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often spent years generating local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

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

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.