The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that forced local governments to put the fate of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.
Historical Context on Māori Wards
Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments could only establish a Māori ward by first submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating community backing and urging their local governments to create Indigenous representation.
Policy Changes and Government Actions
To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.
However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.
Referendum Results
The new legislation required councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.
These outcomes provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”
Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to policies intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it aims to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.
Urban-Rural Divide
Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.
“It’s a real shame 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 less than a third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.
This approach had been “a farce”.
Comparative Treatment
Local governments are able to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements placed on Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.
“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”
This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.
