🔗 Share this article

The number of reserved positions for Māori representatives on NZ local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only create a Māori ward by first submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently spent years building local support and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

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

Referendum Results

The new legislation required councils that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

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

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.

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

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.