Reserved Māori Council Positions on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by More Than Half

The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that required local governments to submit the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to set up 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, stating communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has stated it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards suggested the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

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