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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating community backing and pushing their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up 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 communities ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had created a ward under the previous policy to hold binding referendums alongside the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Criticism

The recent municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their seats.