🔗 Share this article

The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.