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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be cut by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

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

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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