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The number of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years building community backing and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils 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 reversed the change, stating communities ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to hold 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 seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.