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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently spent years building local support and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

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 a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create different wards – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.