Reserved Indigenous Council Positions on NZ Councils to Be Slashed by Over 50%

The count of guaranteed positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, following a controversial law change that forced local governments to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to vote for a assured Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Māori ward by first putting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations often devoted considerable time building community backing and urging their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the current administration overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a ward under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the referendum, 17 voted to keep their seats, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats.

The results provided “a vital step in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics however have criticised the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “race-based” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while countryside areas skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

The recent local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 areas that voted to keep their seats.