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The number of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils will be cut by more than half, following a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to put the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Māori wards, which may have multiple elected officials based on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors 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 public vote in their region. Communities frequently devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the local body elections, which ended on October 11. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties however have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

Outcomes of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers required to vote supported Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the smallest electoral participation in over three decades, with under one-third of citizens participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are permitted to establish other types of wards – such as rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Māori wards indicated the government was targeting Māori representation.

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

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