🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations often devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

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

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

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

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to establish different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.