Reserved Māori Council Positions on New Zealand Councils to Be Reduced by More Than Half
The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities is set to be cut by more than half, after a divisive law change that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.
Background Information on Indigenous Representation
Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the option to elect a assured Māori representative in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by initially putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their councils to establish Māori wards.
Legislative Shifts and Government Actions
To address this concern, the previous Labour government permitted local councils to set up a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a public vote.
However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.
Referendum Results
The coalition’s law change required councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums alongside the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas against reserved Indigenous seats.
The results represented “a crucial move in reinstating local democratic control.”
Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “racist” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. Officials has stated it wants to end “ethnic-specific” approaches, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and all New Zealanders.
Geographical Splits
Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards removing them.
“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”
Electoral Participation and Concerns
This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.
The process had been “a farce”.
Comparative Treatment
Local governments are able to create different wards – including rural wards – without initially mandating a public vote. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.
“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Many communities have given the government a middle finger response.”
This remark concerned the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.
