Reserved Indigenous Seats on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50%
The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.
Background Information on Māori Wards
Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.
Policy Changes and Government Actions
To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.
But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.
Referendum Results
The new legislation required local authorities that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.
The results provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”
Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.
Urban-Rural Divide
The results of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards removing them.
“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”
Voter Turnout and Concerns
The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.
This approach had been “a farce”.
Differential Standards
Councils are permitted to establish different electoral districts – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.
“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”
This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.
