🔗 Share this article Reserved Māori Seats on NZ Local Governments to Be Slashed by Over 50% The count of reserved positions for Indigenous council members on NZ councils is set to be cut by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that required local governments to put the future of hard-earned Māori seats to a public vote. Background Information on Māori Wards Māori wards, which may have multiple councillors depending on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to elect a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, local governments were only able to establish a Indigenous seat by first putting it to a community referendum in their area. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging their local governments to establish Māori wards. Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions To address this concern, the former administration allowed municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a public vote. However, this year, the current administration reversed the change, saying communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation. Voting Outcomes The new legislation required local authorities that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the referendum, 17 decided to keep their seats, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing many regions opposed to reserved Indigenous seats. The results provided “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.” Opposition parties nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “anti-Māori”. Since taking office, the current administration has ushered in extensive reversals to measures designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has stated it aims to terminate “race-based” policies, and asserts it is committed to enhancing results for Māori and every citizen. Urban-Rural Divide Outcomes of the referendums were split down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote supported Indigenous seats, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them. “It’s a real shame for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.” Voter Turnout and Concerns This year’s municipal polls registered the smallest electoral participation in 36 years, with under one-third of citizens casting a vote, leading to calls for an overhaul. This approach had been “a mockery”. Differential Standards Local governments are able to create different electoral districts – including rural wards – without initially mandating a community ballot. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion. “Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.” This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their wards.