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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option 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. Communities frequently spent years building local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Critics however have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

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