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The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils will be cut by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This remark referred to the 17 regions that chose to keep their wards.