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The count of guaranteed positions for Māori representatives on New Zealand local authorities will be cut by over 50%, after a controversial legislative amendment that forced municipal councils to put the future of hard-won Indigenous wards to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include one or more elected officials based on demographic data, were established in 2001 to provide Māori electors the option to vote for a guaranteed Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Originally, councils were only able to establish a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a public vote in their area. Local populations often spent years building community backing and pushing their councils to establish Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Government Actions

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

However, this year, the right-wing coalition government overturned the policy, stating local residents ought to determine whether to introduce Māori wards.

Voting Outcomes

The new legislation required local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct binding referendums concurrently with the local body elections, which concluded on October 11. Out of 42 local governments participating in the referendum, 17 voted to retain their wards, and 25 to abolish theirs – showing numerous areas against guaranteed Māori representation.

These outcomes represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the government’s law change as “discriminatory” and “against Indigenous interests”. After assuming power, the coalition government has implemented sweeping rollbacks to policies intended to enhance Indigenous welfare and political inclusion. The government has said it aims to terminate “ethnic-specific” approaches, and asserts it is committed to improving outcomes for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Geographical Splits

Outcomes of the referendums were split down urban-rural lines – most cities mandated to hold referendums backed Māori wards, while countryside areas leaned strongly towards disestablishing them.

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

Electoral Participation and Criticism

The recent local government elections registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters casting a vote, prompting demands for reform.

This approach had been “a farce”.

Differential Standards

Councils are able to establish other types of wards – such as rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Indigenous representation suggested the administration was targeting Māori representation.

“Well, they failed. Many communities have expressed strong opposition.”

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