🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to create different wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.