Reserved Māori Council Positions on NZ Local Governments to Be Reduced by More Than Half
The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, following a divisive law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.
Historical Context on Māori Wards
Māori wards, which can include one or more councillors based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.
Legislative Shifts and Government Actions
To address this concern, the previous Labour government allowed municipal authorities to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a public vote.
However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.
Voting Outcomes
The new legislation required local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on 11 October. Of 42 councils participating in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.
These outcomes represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”
Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.
Geographical Splits
Outcomes of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – 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 find their footing.”
Voter Turnout and Criticism
This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to demands for reform.
This approach had been “a mockery”.
Comparative Treatment
Councils are able to create other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards suggested the government was singling out Māori representation.
“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”
This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.
