The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.
Historical Context on Indigenous Representation
Māori wards, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their councils to create Indigenous representation.
Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions
To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.
But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.
Voting Outcomes
The new legislation mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.
The results provided “a vital step 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 measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.
Geographical Splits
The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.
“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”
Electoral Participation and Criticism
The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.
This approach had been “a mockery”.
Differential Standards
Local governments are permitted to create other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.
“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”
This statement referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.
