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The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more councillors depending on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Māori electors the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations frequently spent years building community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Māori wards.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of citizens casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish different electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.