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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

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

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.