Self-Determination or State-Determination: Revisiting Separate Māori Representation in Local Government

Abstract

This paper revisits the issue of Māori representation in local government New Zealand. This is timely in light of four significant developments which have taken place in the past year. These developments have highlighted the fact that the current mechanisms and processes in place in most local authorities are not providing effective inclusion and representation of Māori in decision-making. The current national model, and the model implemented in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, illustrate that separate representation and proportional representation are clearly effective in increasing Māori representation. Both of these options have been open to local authorities via the Local Electoral Act 2001 but neither have been implemented to a significant extent. This paper argues that it is now time for central government to make what was optional, mandatory; in keeping with its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and international law. This paper argues that it is time to look past dominant political discourses which have dominated New Zealand’s race relations policies to the principle of self-determination which is expressed through the politics of Indigeneity. The Politics of Indigeneity allows for an examination of international indigenous and human rights law for an application of the principle of self-determination to New Zealand and as an alternative way to discuss the alignment of political structures in accordance with Māori aspirations.