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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

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