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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “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 current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to terminate “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting 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 eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that chose to keep their seats.