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The number of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by over 50%, after a divisive law change that forced municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, 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 find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent municipal polls recorded the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to establish other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.