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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities often spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.