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The count of guaranteed seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that forced municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required councils that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – most cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.