🔗 Share this article

The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building local support and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

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

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.