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Guaranteed Māori Council Positions on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50%
The count of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, following a controversial legislative amendment that required local governments to put the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.
Historical Context on Māori Wards
Māori wards, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Originally, councils could only establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Communities frequently spent years generating community backing and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.
Legislative Shifts and Government Actions
To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to set up a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.
But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.
Referendum Results
The new legislation mandated local authorities that had established a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.
The results represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”
Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” policies, and says it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.
Geographical Splits
Outcomes of the public votes were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.
“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”
Electoral Participation and Criticism
This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, prompting demands for reform.
The process had been “a mockery”.
Differential Standards
Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.
“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”
This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.
Debra Briggs
A passionate photographer and educator with over a decade of experience in capturing life's moments through the lens.
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