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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

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

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