Reserved Indigenous Seats on New Zealand Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50%

The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

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

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

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create other types of electoral districts – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their wards.