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The number of reserved seats for Māori representatives on NZ councils will be slashed by over 50%, following a divisive law change that required municipal councils to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote.

Historical Context on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple elected officials depending on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Indigenous council member in local and regional authorities. Initially, councils could only establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time building community backing and pushing their local governments to create Māori wards.

Legislative Shifts and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to set up a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, stating local residents should decide whether to introduce Māori wards.

Referendum Results

The new legislation mandated councils that had established a electoral district under Labour’s rules to hold decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to keep their wards, 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 government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has implemented sweeping rollbacks to measures intended to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it wants to end “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – six of the seven cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Electoral Participation and Concerns

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

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are permitted to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a community ballot. The different conditions placed on Indigenous representation indicated the government was singling out Māori representation.

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

This statement referred to the 17 regions that chose to retain their wards.