Guaranteed Indigenous Seats on New Zealand Local Governments to Be Reduced by More Than Half
The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand councils is set to be cut by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to put the future of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.
Historical Context on Indigenous Representation
Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple councillors based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments could only create a Indigenous seat by first submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often spent years generating local support and urging their councils to establish Māori wards.
Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions
To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to subject it to a public vote.
But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to establish Māori wards.
Referendum Results
The new legislation required local authorities that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.
The results represented “a vital step in reinstating community self-determination.”
Critics 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 Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and every citizen.
Urban-Rural Divide
Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing 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
This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting calls for an overhaul.
This approach had been “a farce”.
Comparative Treatment
Local governments are permitted to create other types of wards – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was targeting Indigenous inclusion.
“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”
This remark concerned the 17 areas that chose to retain their seats.
