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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand councils will be cut by more than half, after a divisive legislative amendment that forced local governments to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Historical Context on Māori Wards

Indigenous electoral districts, which may have multiple elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, local governments were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially putting it to a public vote in their region. Communities often devoted considerable time generating local support and pushing their local governments to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

To remedy the issue, the former administration permitted municipal authorities to establish a Indigenous seat without first requiring them to subject it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, saying communities should decide whether to establish Indigenous representation.

Voting Outcomes

The coalition’s law change required councils that had created a electoral district under the previous policy to conduct decisive public votes concurrently with the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to disestablish theirs – revealing many regions opposed to guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a vital step in reinstating local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have criticised the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies designed to improve Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it wants to terminate “ethnic-specific” policies, and says it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down city-country divisions – most cities required to vote supported Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Māori wards that had only just come in – they’re just beginning to find their footing.”

Electoral Participation and Criticism

This year’s local government elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, prompting demands for reform.

The process had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Local governments are able to create other types of electoral districts – including countryside seats – without first requiring a public vote. The disparate requirements applied to Indigenous representation indicated the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This remark concerned the 17 regions that voted to keep their seats.