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The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.