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The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by over 50%, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a public vote.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to create a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their region. Communities often spent years building local support and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to establish a Indigenous seat without initially mandating them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities ought to determine whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated local authorities that had created a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. The government has said it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.

Geographical Splits

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities mandated to hold referendums backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions leaned strongly towards removing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a community ballot. The disparate requirements placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 areas that chose to keep their seats.