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The count of reserved positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be slashed by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more councillors depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the local body elections, which ended on 11 October. Of 42 councils taking part in the public vote, 17 decided to retain their seats, and twenty-five to abolish theirs – revealing numerous areas opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

The results provided “a crucial move in restoring community self-determination.”

Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the public votes were split down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Māori wards, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with less than a third of citizens participating, leading to demands for reform.

The process had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are permitted to establish other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without initially mandating a community ballot. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was singling out Māori representation.

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

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