🔗 Share this article

The number of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and urging their councils to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

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

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark concerned the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.