Reserved Indigenous Seats on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by More Than Half

The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a controversial law change that required local governments to submit the future of hard-won Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their area. Communities often spent years generating local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To address this concern, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – 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 under one-third of citizens casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to create different electoral districts – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

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

This remark referred to the 17 areas that voted to retain their wards.