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

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have criticised the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

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 participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are permitted to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

This statement concerned the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.