Reserved Indigenous Council Positions on New Zealand Local Governments to Be Slashed by More Than Half

The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently spent years generating community backing and urging their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

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

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums 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 twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

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