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The count of guaranteed seats for Indigenous council members on NZ local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a divisive law change that required local governments to put the fate of hard-won Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were established in 2001 to give Indigenous voters the choice 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 region. Communities frequently spent years generating local support and urging their local governments to establish Indigenous representation.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To address this concern, the former administration allowed local councils to establish a Māori ward without first requiring them to put it to a popular ballot.

But in 2024, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change mandated councils that had established a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Of 42 councils participating in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes provided “a crucial move in reinstating community self-determination.”

Critics however have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the current administration has implemented extensive reversals to measures designed to improve Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it wants to end “race-based” policies, and says it is dedicated to improving outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven urban centers mandated to hold referendums supported Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It’s a real shame for the Māori wards that had recently been established – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Comparative Treatment

Councils are able to create other types of electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the government was targeting Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have expressed strong opposition.”

This remark referred to the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.