Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program
– Milton Friedman.
The future of the Maori Seats has once again been raised as an important issue for New Zealanders to consider.
Introduced in 1867 as a temporary measure to ensure Maori men could vote at a time when property requirements excluded many from the franchise, the Maori seats were retained even as universal suffrage in 1893 removed the rationale for their existence.
New Zealand First has now put the matter back on the table. They say the race-based seats should be abolished because they are discriminatory and distort the proportionality of Parliament.
Accordingly, they have drafted a Private Members’ Bill to hold a binding referendum on the future of the Maori seats at November’s election. Their proposed Yes/No referendum question asks: “Should there be separate Maori seats in the New Zealand Parliament?”
Ironically, the opposition already has a Maori Seats Bill in the Parliamentary Members’ Ballot. Following Labour’s failed attempt to entrench the seats in 2019, Green MP Huhana Lyndon lodged the Electoral (Equal Protection of Maori Seats) Amendment Bill in January to do the same in order to make it harder for the Maori seats to be abolished.
Under democratic conventions, a country’s voting system is deemed to be of such constitutional significance that it is afforded special protection in law to prevent those in power from manipulating it for their own advantage.
In New Zealand this democratic safeguard comes in the form of the entrenchment provisions found in Section 268 of the Electoral Act, which ensures any proposal for change has widespread public support either through a supermajority vote in Parliament of 75 percent of MPs or a simple majority in a nation-wide binding referendum of voters.
Crucially, while neither the general electorates nor Maori electorates are entrenched – and could be changed by a simple majority in Parliament – other matters such as the voting age, the length of the Parliamentary term, the secret ballot, and the MMP electoral system are entrenched, as is the work of the Representation Commission and the mechanics of dividing the country into electorates.
The ACT Party agrees that the Maori seats should be abolished and have stated that their preference is to pass legislation to that effect in Parliament, bypassing the idea of a referendum altogether.
While the Maori seats could be abolished by a simple majority vote in Parliament, there is a suggestion that doing so could trigger court challenges.
This claim rests on the erroneous argument that the entrenchment of the Representation Commission, which draws electorate boundaries, might somehow protect the Maori electorates.
But since the Commission’s entrenchment protects the process for drawing electorates, not the existence of the electorates themselves, any court action would almost certainly fail.
A binding referendum on the other hand, is definitive. Should a majority of the population vote in favour of abolition – as is likely – then the Government has a legitimate public mandate to remove all references to separate Maori representation from the Electoral Act, including section 45 on Maori representation, section 269 on the creation of Maori electoral districts, and sections 76–78C on the Maori electoral option.
The need to abolish the Maori seats is no longer a matter that can be ignored. Their existence is now having such a distortionary impact on our Parliament, that in the interests of true democratic representation, it cannot be allowed to continue.
At the present time New Zealand has 33 Members of Parliament who claim to have Maori heritage. They now exercise political influence through every major party: Labour has 9, the Maori Party 6, the Greens 6, National 5, New Zealand First 4, and ACT has 3.
With New Zealand’s 54th Parliament having a total of 123 MPs, Maori MPs now make up a record 27 percent of Parliament, far exceeding their 17 percent share of the population.
If the seven reserved seats were removed, there would be 26 Maori MPs making up 21 percent of Parliament – still an overrepresentation, but less so.
That means any argument that the Maori seats are still required to ensure Maori have a voice in Parliament is no longer valid.
The Maori seats are in fact discriminatory and racist. By granting those who identify as Maori a separate electoral pathway and guaranteed Parliamentary representation that’s not available to other ethnic groups, they violate the foundational democratic principle of equal rights. By treating New Zealanders unequally on the basis of race, they contravene both our Bill of Rights’ commitment to equal treatment, and the Article Three Treaty promise that Maori would have the same rights and duties as all other citizens.
The system also distorts MMP proportionality through overhangs.
At the last election, the Maori Party gained 3 percent of the party vote entitling them to just four MPs. But by winning 6 of the 7 Maori seats, they gained six MPs, creating a two-seat overhang in Parliament. This gave a small race-based party disproportionate influence and leverage that unfairly amplifies the group’s power. And with the Maori Party vote currently collapsing, the overhang may well be greater after the next election.
These outcomes were, of course, predicted by the 1986 Royal Commission on the Electoral System, which was tasked with reviewing New Zealand’s electoral framework amidst growing public dissatisfaction with First-Past-the-Post voting. Its landmark report, “Towards a Better Democracy”, unanimously recommended adopting MMP – a system that allocates seats proportionally based on party votes, supplemented by electorate wins.
Crucially, the Commission argued that if MMP was adopted the Maori seats must be abolished, recommending in Section 3.74 of their report: “In the form of Maori representation we have proposed for MMP, there would be no separate Maori constituency or list seats, no Maori roll, and no Maori option. All New Zealanders would vote in the same way for the party they wish to govern, and for a constituency MP.”
They strongly argued that the separate seats had “not helped Maori”, since they segregated Maori issues to the small group of reserved seat MPs, effectively marginalising them from broader parliamentary consideration and perpetuating a dependency culture that had long hampered Maori self-development and achievement.
Furthermore, they warned that retaining separate seats alongside a proportional electoral system would risk “disproportionate and discriminatory over‑representation”.
In other words, the Maori seats were never meant to coexist with MMP since if they did, they would distort the very principle of proportionality that is at the core of the MMP system of voting.
Initially, the Bolger National Government took on board the Commission’s advice and when the first MMP Bill was introduced to Parliament in December 1992, it stated: “No provision is made for separate Maori seats.”
However, Maori leaders mounted a strong campaign to retain the seats, culminating in a meeting at the Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia where they claimed unanimous support. As a result, National caved in and the bill was amended during the select committee process to re-introduce Maori seats as constituency seats, with the number based on a Maori Electoral Option.
Since that first MMP election in 1996, calls to abolish the Maori seats have grown louder.
This week’s NZCPR Guest Commentary is the speech given by National’s leader Bill English in July 2003, when he declared, “We are the party of national unity in one standard of citizenship, and national ambition for a higher standard of living. There can be a future where New Zealand will be united and successful. National intends to lead it” – and with that he announced that his Party would abolish the Maori seats:
“I am here today to explain to you why citizenship, one standard of citizenship for all, matters so much… We have been at our best when we have worked to make sure citizenship is fulfilled and preserved. Citizenship erases the prejudices and privileges that go with birth, race or belief. One standard of citizenship is the foundation of national unity, national pride and national ambition for every New Zealander.
“Many Maori have the same vision of a shared future… We have faith in the capacity of Maori to strive and succeed in work and politics on the same basis as everyone else… That’s why a National-led Government will abolish the Maori seats.”
In his 2004 State of the Nation address at Orewa, National’s new leader Don Brash renewed the call for abolition with an impassioned plea that labelled the seats an “anachronism” that fostered special race-based privileges for Maori.
The party’s spectacular rise in the polls following that speech – from 28 percent in December 2003 to 49 percent by March 2004 – demonstrated widespread public support for the fundamental truth that New Zealanders do not want to be a nation divided by race.
In 2008, John Key pledged abolition but with a proviso – only after all Treaty settlements had been resolved. However, even that was dropped once National formed a Coalition with the Maori Party.
Since John Key’s willingness to compromise on this core democratic principle, National has largely sat on the fence on what is an issue of key importance for the future of New Zealand.
The ACT Party has consistently advocated for the removal of the Maori seats, emphasising the need for one law for all.
Similarly, New Zealand First has called for their abolition over recent years, most notably in 2017 when Winston Peters made a binding referendum a “bottom line” in any coalition agreement, arguing the seats had become irrelevant under MMP.
Since that bottom-line promise was forgotten once New Zealand First entered into the Ardern Coalition, questions are now being raised about just how genuine the Party’s commitment really is.
In 2008, a leading Constitutional Lawyer and Professor of Law at Canterbury University Dr Philp Joseph KC, undertook the most comprehensive clinical analysis of the Maori seats since the 1986 Royal Commission in order to ascertain whether they should be abolished or retained. He concluded, “There are four reasons why the Maori seats should be abolished: they are anachronistic, they institutionalise Maori separatism, they represent a form of reverse discrimination and they threaten to manipulate MMP electoral outcomes through ‘overhang’.
Depicting the Maori seats as a form of “reverse discrimination” and “a symbol of racial separatism” he explained that the strongest case for abolition is that “the Maori seats that the Maori Party will win have the potential to thwart proportionality and the expressed will of the people.”
While the case for the abolition of the Maori seats is now overwhelming, anyone wavering needs to reflect on the point made by Professor Joseph, that the Maori seats have the potential to significantly undermine the outcome of an election, and as such represent a grave democratic risk.
A hint of what was being planned emerged in 2024, when, buoyed by their protest to Parliament, Maori Party members claimed they could win 20 Maori Seats in our Parliament by encouraging Maori voters to switch from the General Electoral Roll onto the Maori Electoral Roll.
Such an outcome would, of course, completely destroy the proportionality of Parliament, undermining our democracy and reducing non-Maori representation to a fraction of what it should be. And while it would be difficult – if not impossible – to achieve such a high number of Maori seats, the sobering point is that the mechanism to allow this sort of result is nevertheless embedded in our electoral law.
This is an issue National can no longer ignore. It needs to get off the fence and explicitly state whether or not it will support a referendum on the Maori seats.
And, to avoid doubt, each New Zealand First MP needs to personally pledge that if a referendum on the Maori seats is not held at the 2026 election, then their demand for a binding referendum in the next term of Parliament is an issue they are not prepared to compromise on during post-election coalition negotiations. Only then will their word be credible.
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THIS WEEK’S POLL ASKS:
*Should there be separate Maori seats in the New Zealand Parliament?
*Poll comments are posted below.
*All NZCPR poll results can be seen in the Archive.
THIS WEEK’S POLL COMMENTS
| Abolish maori seats in parliament | Carole |
| Superb article, well written and definitely a must read for all Kiwis | Phil |
| Separate seats were meant to go with the introduction of MMP we now have the tail wagging the dog . NZ was warned this would happen. It empowers the losers | Stanley |
| Definitely not | Mike |
| WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE! | William |
| it is racist to have seperate seats based on skin color or race | Brent |
| It always needs to be in the language used by most poeole in the country.Any other language should come second. if we all and onlt talked Maorin how would we communicate with the rest of the World | JMike |
| lets start with the premise that everyone has equal voting rights in both local and national olitis. | Mikw |
| This racist anachronism must go. It is used and abused by racist Maori activists on a constant 3 year basis. | John |
| Need to get rid of MMP in the same referendam | Gary |
| Separating families with Maori and non Maori descent is appalling let alone separating the country on the colour of your skin or descent where European or other ethnic percentage is far greater in most, if not all Maori descendants of today. | Dianne |
| who wants to go back to tribalism !! | Mark |
| Agree with all points in the article. | Max |
| The government needs to “grow a pair” and finally move to abolish these seats. | Laurie |
| Absolutely not!! | Caroline |
| Totally unnecessary as we are all equal. Abuses the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi. Over abundance of Maori representation in Parliament as it currently is. It’s not prepositional representation as there is a high proportion of Maori voting on the general roll. It is racism /discriminatory as it causes racial division and gives preferential regard to Maori who are not the first people of New Zealand so ought be treated like any other New Zealand born sovereign Also to gain a Maori seat requires less votes than in a general seat because there are so few Moari registered on the Maori roll. | Esme |
| Been the policy of several parties so why are we still waiting | Greg |
| Just using Maori for anything Race-based is Racial in its very nature leading to Segregation there are approximately 2,500- 4,000 acts/Statutes favoring Maori how is this not Apartheid Devisive seperatist Policies have to be rescinded | Wayne |
| NO | Neil |
| Voting purposes say no. | william |
| I have grown up in a country that we were all equal and looked after each other. what has happened to that. We have been divided and split to be at war with each other for no reason. The young racial groups will with they had never started this rubbish when the civil war starts in NZ if no one has the balls to grow up and get on with life as one. We now live in a global world grow up. | rod |
| They are getting two bites at the cherry | John |
| All candidates should stand on their own merits | Dianne |
| No Maori seats at all, just New Zealander seats. | Warren |
| They were a temporary feature to allow Maori to vote. When all NZ adults were given the vote these seats should have been disestablished. A second opportunity was when MMP was introduced. Let’s us not delay removing what is now radically privileged position. | Mark |
| There is clearly no need for these seats in Parliament now. The racist seats have expanded from four to seven. They need to go immediately. Every New Zealander deserves the same treatment. If every race in New Zealand had their own seats it would be a shambles. Winston Peters is simply grandstanding on his call. His “bottom line” in 2017 mysteriously vanished when he went into coalition with Labour. National lacks spine to do the correct thing. Act is rather lonely in its position and deserves support. | Gavin |
| Of course not, We should not have over representations of any group of people in NZ. | Paula |
| Maories should not forget what their chiefs signed in 1840.! Everybody in NZ should be treated equal,. | Paula |
| No longer required | Jo |
| tey are past their usedby date and are undemocratic | Graham |
| Definitely NO. By having separate Maori seats in parliament simply continues, and encourages, the Maori influences ,entitlements and preferences that cut across democratic entitlements. | Keith |
| The same representation for a;; New Zealanders. | Peter |
| There is no place for separatist seats in this country. | Chris |
| NO,NO,NO. I think it’s way passed time the the coalition got there heads together ,grow some BALLS get on the same page and SAY NO, WE ARE ALL EGUAL. ONE PEOPLE, ONE LAW, ONE COUNTRY CALLED NEW ZEALAND. STOP THE CRAP. | COLIN |
| One parliament to represent everyone. | Gary |
| Absolutely not – they are racist and anti democratic | Ihaia |
| No.They are too devisive. | galem |
| There are plenty of “ethnic identifiers” in parliament without any separate pathway. | Rodney |
| NO..NO..NO… ALL MAARI SEATS, HAVE TO BE REDACTED, NO NEED FOR THEM ANY-MORE!! THEY GET 2VOTES UNDER MMP,MOST OF THEM VOTED FOR THAT..!! EQUALITY FOR ALL …. | David |
| I was born and brought jo in a very special country, New Zealand, Aotearoa, the Land of the long which cloud, where no one yes I repeat no one noticed, commented , thought about so called discrimination.. Then I worked for come time teaching at a college where the deputy head was one of the few full blooded Maori people who could trace their lineage back to the signing of the treaty. I could continue but it’s of little use as now poor NZ has got into the hands of those who wish no well to our land of freedom, love and peace . How extraordinarily sad | margaret |
| See ChCh Prof Joseph’s comments | Margaret |
| The Maori seats should be abolished because they are discriminatory and distort the proportionality of Parliament. The Maori seats are in fact discriminatory and racist. | Malcolm |
| There is no reason why Maori can not stand like everyone else. | Gayle |
| No there shouldn’t be separate Maori seats. I feel Maori are well represented in Parliament and in every party where they are on an equal footing with their non-Maori colleagues’ either in Government or opposition. | Rob |
| no,never any more | Gerard |
| Definitely not | Mike |
| For exactly the reasons so well presented by the many people who have analysed the topic. They should have been scrapped when recommended when the voting system changed. The sooner the better as your comments about encouraging voters on to the Maori role indicates | Mike |
| The Treaty of Waitangi states we are all one people, therefore there should be NO Maori seats or separate Maori Roll. | Kevin |
| Racist and separatism | Ian |
| One country one people all even as stated in the ToW. | Carol |
| The Maori seats must go certainly no longer needed | Margaret |
| They are no longer relevant | David |
| It’s outdated and no longer provides Maori tangible value and is being misused as a vehicle for activists which isn’t representing Maori well who are better served on the general electorate if you seek to address real practical outcomes | Brent |
| There is no justification for them | Allan |
| Leads to separatism and if we are one people as a nation this is not. | Andrew |
| I think it is time for the country to grow up and become one people. I do not like the mention of the distortion it could cause within parliament if they continue. | Laraine |
| They are past there use by date | Ken |
| One Country, One parliament, NO separatism. | Josephine |
| Separate moari seats is anti democratic | David |
| I do find it very difficult to get how the recommendation made by the Electoral Commission back in 1986 (?) to abolish the Maori Seats completely as part-maori would be proportionately represented with the MMP System. So, with Jim Bolger relenting to that change when forming a Coalition with the Maori Party & John Key campaigned on abolishing Maori Seats, then changes direction & adds a provision for the seats to be abolished AFTER all the “Land Claims” have been settled…what a ‘cop out’…no wonder we have such lowered trust in the promises that politicians make just to get into power & then drop such promises! | Bruza |
| There is no place for apartheid in NZ | Peter |
| This problem should have been sorted out years ago. National continued fence sitting is being highlighted. | Ian |
| You only have to watch the world news to see what happens when different groups can’t agree on whose country it is. | Norman |
| All this maori racist sh….. has to be gotten RID OF……PRONTO……IT ALL ENDS WITH US…… | David |
| Maori elders live in the past | Andy |
| No. However, as I have remarked on previous occasions, if the Maori roll and seats are abolished, it may result in many more votes going to Labour. Think about it! | Peter |
| No, should have gone with MMP. They are being exploited by maori radicals and self benefit of maori tribes. Majority of New Zealanders are being ripped off. | Kevin |
| It isn’t democratic to have separate Maori seats. We are one people not them and us | Jacqueline |
| Of course not, it’s a no-brainer. So called Maori are over represented already and promote anti white racism wherever possible to further their claims for tribal dominance. | John |
| Its way past time for their removal. | Ronmac |
| Over representation by extremist Maori | Alan |
| It is outrageous that the Maori Seats have lasted so long. It just shows how weak Parliament has been in standing up to Maori Activists | Jerry |
| Hm, let me think…… howzabout we do a deal and us Dutchies get our own seats too…….admittedly there are only about 30 thousand of us but look at the contribution we have made to the NZ economy. | Barend |
| Continuing separate Maori seats in Parliament is in conflict with the Treaty as signed at Waitangi – which gave Maori “all the rights and privileges of British subjects” – EQUALITY! | Gary |
| Maori are over represented as it is, end them! | Dave |
| They have no place in an MMP Parliament | Murray |
| They are no longer needed. | Bruce |
| They are racist. Pure and simple. | Alastair |
| No there shouldn’t be but can imagine the hand wringing there will be if they are removed | Lawrie |
| Absolutely not | rose |
| End Apartheid in New Zealand now. | Igor |
| No race-based anything can be justified | Tony |
| The Maori seats are in fact discriminatory and racist. By granting those who identify as Maori a separate electoral pathway and guaranteed Parliamentary representation that’s not available to other ethnic groups, they violate the foundational democratic principle of equal rights. By treating New Zealanders unequally on the basis of race, they contravene both our Bill of Rights commitment to equal treatment, and the Article Three Treaty promise that Maori would have the same rights and duties as all other citizens. | Bill |
| Absolutely not. I am of Maori descent and I subscribe to fair and unbiased political rights for every New Zealander of whatever nationality. | Harvey |
| Maori seats in parliament causes too much in fighting and division. They should be abolished. | Mary |
| We are one country. Not them & us! | Glenys |
| Time to go | Kevin |
| it is currently undemocratic to have separate Maori seats. | Jan |
| need to be abolished to stop any race based agenda | leo |
| NO NO NO! | Murray |
| Just as in a family home there has to be general social unity and respect for one and all otherwise that unit will self implode to varying degrees . The same principals, just as Sir Aparata Ngata clearly explained, this One Country under One Flag is essential for New Zealand to remain a sovereign nation – and just like life not everything is as every individual might like it – general respect, without an avid desire to ‘take control’ likely wont work in the long term leading to massive discontent and separation – just as in families. | Stuart |
| Get rid of them once and for all and National should support their removal otherwise this will cost them come election. | Ken |
| Leaving the Maori seats enables racism. Why not encourage the Chines or Indian community to have the same – it’s all just dumb | Rob |
| Obviously racist. | Hugh |
| They have to go. There is no room for them in a democracy. And co governance especially. That is a demonstrable disaster. | Mike |
| No more hand outs/hand ups for maori. You get ahead in life by hard work diligence patience perseverance and a little bit of luck. Merit not maori ! We must make an end of appeasement and in the words of Winston Churchill , “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last”. Perfectly describes the vast majority of politicians in New Zealand who seem to be begging to be cannibalised . | Glyn J |
| The reason for them being there is no longer valid. We are long overdue in giving the Government a clear mandate to abolish them. I support a binding referendum. | Tony |
| We all should have equal rights | Steve |
| Get rid of them asap. Long overdue,were meant to go when MMP came in , as usual National bowed down to maori. | Peter |
| I understand that Luxon has stated that the future of Maori seats will be decided by Maori alone. Is this no true? | Phil |
| Unfortunately, National has been captured by urban liberals who disregard the views of grass root supporters on racial equity and the utter obsession with so-called made climate change. | Lee |
| NO there should NOT BE SEPARATE MAORI SEATS! ABOLISH THEM AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY! | Sylvia |
| Just fo it Coalition!!!!! | Ray |
| Once again separatists are banging their drums | Hugh |
| One country, one people | John |
| Absolutely not we should be a united country | Denise |
| The Maori seats look to me as a type of racism | Gerhard |
| New Zealand is supposed to be a democracy, where Members of parliament are voted for by the general public. The Maori seats are a sham & have got be removed. | david |
| I’m not in favour of divisive racism | Alan |
| About time this rort was removed and everyone was treated as equal to everyone else. | Roy |
| Definitely not and it should be subject to a binding referendum for the next election. Every intending candidate should reveal their honest view. | Terry M |
| The seats are the source of RACISM | Peter |
| We are all part of NZ, not separate. | Alan |
| wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwWE SHOULD ALL BE EQUAL | Cindy |
| Quite simply – separate Maori seats is RACIST !! | Doug |
| It creates more division not less. | Kim |
| What for ?? We came here in NZ a few years later than the Maori people. We work(ed) hard, are successful and have representation when ever we need to ! | Henk |
| It is time for this to be abolished completely. | Murray |
| Anyone with enough motivation and feels that they can make a positive Ideas to the wellbeing of New Zealand can run for any political party know matter what Nationality they are. Maori seats have well and truly ran there course. | Wayne |
| Obviously they are represented by the same methods everyone else is | Peter |
| Definitely no | Donald |
| Definitely not as this gives a race based advantage to Maori instead of equal rights as per the original Treaty. There is no partnership. | Hugh |
| Not any more! | Owen |
| One people … remember? | Robbie |
| Unfortunately when it comes to apartheid National has been very weak and spineless and could well suffer at the next election because of it. A lot of these problems would be eased it we had a law which required political parties to actually carry out their election promises. | Hugh |
| NO! | Garth |
| They should have been phasaed out with the change to MMP – that was the recommendation | Peter |
| It is racist and alters proportions in parliament | Claire |
| Should have been abolished when MMP was introduced but to the shame of many politicians since the seats and those occupying them still hang around our necks like a noose – – or is like a bad smell a better analogy?. | Doug |
| The need to introduce the seats has not been a factor for over 100 years give or take The Maori role is quite false, anybody can enrol without question | Gary |
| Equal rights for all New Zealanders. | Maureen |
| Recommended to remove these when map voted in. This is long overdue | DAVID |
| No,no,no, get rid of the ridiculous Maori crap if nz is to go ahead | Daryl |
| They should have been abolished when MMP became law as they were supposed to be Maori are over represented now by a very long way The government nead to move fast to sort out this and many other problems before the elections or we will loose many more people overseas | Peter |
| There should be 2 choices: 1) Fixed number of Maori seats and no Maori on the general electorate 2) No Maori seats and everyone is on the general electorate. Maori have shown that they are extremely capable of successfully competing in the general election and do not need the seat hand out. Those advocating for Maori seats are the ones who are not capable of competing on their own merit and want a free ride. | Martin |
| Well past time to change this as long as the Nats can not cave in again. | Gerry |
| Maori seats were established before any Maori political party. We now have TePati Maori. Let them win any Maori vote if they are able without being propped up with seats that are almost assured to be won by them. | Peter |
| Totally outdated now – Maori have equal opportunity to stand for representation of any party they choose. | Carole |
| 1 people 1 country | John |
| of course not | Mike |
| South Africa eventually got rid of its race based electoral system. We should also get rid of our race based electoral system with the Maori seats. | Kent |
| Maori are double dipping causing the overhang which distorts the proportionality that MMP was designed for. It will get worse when more Maori enroll on Maori roll. | Graeme |
| They generate racial prejudice. | Percy |
| They should have been abolished a century ago. | Peter |
| one country one race NO SEPERATISM | john |
| Remove apartheid from NZ. Restore true democracy. | Mark |
| No The reason for their existence is no longer there | COOKIE |
| No Brainer should have been abolished years ago | Ray |
| Should have gone in 1993 but for gutless National Jim Bolger | mike |
| Again we are all New Zealanders especially if we were born here. | Laurel |
| As the policy and framework is interpretted they now largely serve as a lightening rod used by Maori to further their own separatist aspirations. They simply make governing complicated and are unnessary and undemocratic in the NZ of today and it’s future. | Paul |
| no there are plenty voted in without special seats | Chris |
| This Maorification of New Zealand ( not Aotearoa) must be stopped and the abolition of Maori seats is one of the many steps that need to be taken. | John |
| Definitely NOT! We are meant to be ONE PEOPLE! ALL to be treated EQUALLY! We DO NOT need separate Maori Seats. | Heather |
| They are RACIST. | Roger |
| If they as capable as they make out to our country then they should be elected on the same basis as every other representative standing for parliament. Definitely a no to preferential seats. | Andrina |
| Get rid of racism. Sooner the better | John |
| Racist separatist outdated -,we are a multicultural nation | Sharon |
| They served their purpose and became outdated one hundred years ago | bRuce |
| Removal of Maori seats from NZ Parliament is long overdue | Gavin |
| A no brained if we really are as one. We don’t have seperate European/CaucasionPakeha seats. | Janine |
| Definitely not. Having maori seats is RACIST. | Jackie |
| There is no -lace for race backed politics in NZ or DEI hires | Philippe |
| They should have been removed when the whole population got universal franchise. | Willy |
| everyone should be equal- no preferential treatment…… | patricia |
| Absolutely not. All New Zealanders should have the same rights with no separatism tolerated at all. | Peter |
| Get rid, quick. | John |
| Maori aparthied seats are not wanted in NZ. We must become one people in one nation. Lots of people need to heal. Division by race is the no.1 agenda by pure evil. | Alan |
| we are all Kiwis or New Zealanders now | greg |
| They are racist and disrespectful of the 93% of new Zealanders that are non maori. Plus those that do claim maori ethnicity at most are 15-20% maori the balance being other ethnicity. Therefore the term maori is not really maori but a rather weak hybrid of maori ethnicity. | Owen |
| It’s totally unnecessary and against the principles of MMP. | Yanna |
| I agree that this is it major importance for the future of NZ | Ross |
| Its called apartheid | Anke |
| DEFINATELY THIS BS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG | CHIRE |
| Definately not if we claim NZ is a democracy | Kareen |
| I brought this up with Gerry Brownlee about 2 mouths ago and at the time he said there would have to be a 75% vote in parliament to pass. now that winne has bought it up for referendum I am all for it. | Barry |
| There is no need for reverse racism | John |
| They should have been abolished years ago. We are all New Zealanders regardless of race. | Andrew |
| Now proof that it is not needed. There is also never any reason to have racially picked New Zealanders | Cath |
| Maori seats should be abolished. | Kevin |
| National needs to get off the fence and back up the call for real democracy. The Maori party’s behaviour demonstrate why the Maori seats have distorted our Parliament in favour of racist ideology which has no place anywhere. | Warren |
| Definitely not. | Hohepa |
| one law for all | Leo |
| Definitely no, as it is discriminating and racist. | Greg |
| The abolition of the Maori seats in NZ Parliament has been long overdue. | wayne |
| Under no circumstances . Get rid if the lot of them, they are nothing but trouble. Luxon and his Government have got to wake up their ideas | Rob |
| They are an anachronism that distort democracy | Terry |
| Separate seats undermine recognized Democracy | Ross |
| Because there are no pure Maori left and we ought to to be on NZ for the benefit of everyone | barbara |
| Maori seats should have been abolished years ago and they would have been if not for the weak/woke National party | Kevin |
| They are no longer needed under MMP and more importantly distort the democratic process by the overhang of seats generally created. | Grant |
| No, No NO. New Zealand cannot be a democracy in any shape or form with race based seats in parliament. Get rid of them now or give the people a binding referendum. | Sam |
| Politics should not be divided by race. | Clive |
| They served there purpose over a hundred years ago and are no longer needed | Colin |
| All the Maori seats should be abolished and no seat should have any separate ethnic group involved. In any event the Maori seats were supposed to be temporary and dissolved once the Country settled down — that was not long after the treaty was signed in 1840 | Alan |
| Equal representation, Equal opportunity, and Equal rights for all New Zealand citizens. Simple. | Frank |
| I tell my friend to Party vote Act and vote National MP for electorate ( if a proven performer). That may counter the overhang | Glenn |
| They can stand for our current political parties | Phyllis |
| National need to wake up and join ACT and New Zealand First to ensure democracy in our voting system. | John |
| It has all been said many times before. They are an anachronism, outdated, totally unnecessary and distortionary (If that’s a word). The fact that activists shout, swear, squeal, snivel and whine, should in no way influence the facts. | Dianna |
| out of sense | murray |
| one law for all | Anthony |
| certainly not !!! | norman |
| Absolutely not. Our Parliament should be colour blind as is the right focus of the legal system. COLOUR BLIND!!!!!!!!!no less. | Neville |
| It’s long past the time when abolition of separate maori seats in parliament sholfd have been done. Maori have proven that they can foot it completely democratically, so get rid of these racist seats! | Trevor |
| They already have representation with elected MPs | Jana |
| Its Apartheid so no | neil |
| The last six years of Te party Maori has been so divisive to New Zealand that they need to go. | Catherine |
| should have gone with intro of MMP | Colin |
| Of course not, that just separates us even more. | Diane |
| separate seats are racist and seperate new zealand and we should be one people one land as when i grew up in the 1940 | adrian |
| Definitely not.It just causes more more separation .within our parliament and promotes racialism! | Fiona |
| The present system has is undemocratic and contrary to the Treaty | Elgin |
| Maori have plenty of seats within parliament so no need for separate at all | Kay |
| If we are to be ‘one people’ then the Maori seats should be abolished ASAP. New Zealand is fast becoming another South Africa or Zimbabwe. Is this what we want? | Laurence |
| 50 years ago I registered for the Maori roll for what I thought would be a short period of time. Even then at 21 I understood it to be no longer required. | Vicki |
| one party that should not exist is the maori party | graeme |
| Separate Maori seats? A Maori Party – yes – separate seats- no. | Lesley |
| Seperate Maori seats are Absolutely racist.and should be abolished. A system where a minority race rules over the majority is wrong as was proved and changed in South Africa decades ago. | Bill |
| No Maori seats in NZ Parliament we are all equal with the same rights under NZ law. | Roydon |
| Of course not. Everyone has equal opportunity to get voted in. Why should they be different | Mike |
| They should have been abolished years ago The National Party has proved to be spineless in this matter for years it is high time it was sorted. | Frank |
| One people one law and one vote, for the people to decide. | Don |
| They are an anachronism that should never have been established in the first place, and their continued existance is yet another example of John Key’s ineptititude as a previous PM, sitting alongside National support of UNDIP and various other racially divisive pro-Maori initiatives supported by Key and his party of the time. Seemingly little has changed under Loser Luxflakes. Vote Act or (possibly) NZF | Rob |
| 100 years past their use-by date. | Dave |
| Clean this up immediately | Ray |
| The essence of He Puapua. Partners-plus means Maori are more equal, a contradiction in terms, as well as in deocracy | Kevin |
| Absolutely Maori seats must go! They are anti-democratic, and Maori do not need them, anyway, as they are over-represented in Parliament right now. Even without the Maori seats they will still be over-represented! | Donna |
| Certainly not. Everyone by own merit not ethnicity. | Don |
| These should have been removed many years ago. | Simon |
| Undemocratic | Dave |
| One law for all | Gavin |
| The Royal Electoral Commission of 1986, shared by the late Sir John Wallace, said they should be abolished when recommending MMP electoral system. Just recommendation was never carried out despite the introduction of MMP. It needs to happen now! | Hylton |
| Of course not! | Bruce |
| The original need no longer applies and has now resulted in disproportionate representation in NZ | william |
| All vote for the party they want | Brian |
| Of course, the Maori seats should be abolished! Your article summarizes the reasons very well. And you are quite right to query the sincerity and commitment of political parties who say they would abolish them — and then take no action. As a member of NZ First for over a decade, I do still think its commitment to their abolition is real. In retrospect, most of us in the party now think the 2017 coalition with Labour was a major error — that was evident to me by 2019 — and we’ve learned from that mistake. It’s not so much that the support agreement we had initially was terrible, it is more that Labour broke that agreement repeatedly, sometimes overtly, sometimes in an underhand way. But all of us who back “minor” parties realize that we have have to make compromises and prioritize our goals. I’m hoping NZ First will be in a strong enough position when the next government forms to have greater power to push the issue. At any rate, by now the evidence is so overwhelming: that tying any Parliamentary seats to race is not only anti-democratic, but — given the insanely woke and increasingly violent rhetoric and actions of the Maori party — it is now also dangerous to social stability and public order. | Marla |
| they are a complete anachronism, | alastair |
| The Maori seats should be done away with by a Referendum. BUT the Referendum should also include an over haul of MMP> All Politicians have used it for their benefit. An impartial body needs to be convened to do the Overhaul | Francis |
| Absolutely not. Abolition is vital for citizen equality. Unless Luxon and National support this bill, their reputation is damaged beyond repair. | Mary |
| Of more concern is Chippys promise to go into partnership maori | James |
| Absolutely get rid of them. Bring on the Referendum and let us be done with this for good. | Robyn |
| There is no longer a justification for them | Cath |
| Well past their use by date. | Garry |
| Of course not! We New Zealanders have elected our past and present Governments with the expectation that they would put in place laws and regulations which would have us all as New Zealanders playing on the same level playing field. That is, we all identify as New Zealanders one person, one vote of the same value. However it is clear that we have been governed by cowards which is why they (the Governments past and present) coerced the unqualified territorial councils to do the dirty work that they should have undertaken. The Ministers should be fully accountable to the public for their lack of intestinal fortitude to do the job that the public voted them into power to do. Nothing is going to change in the short term. It will take many generations to sort out this current nonsense. The elevation of truth from the past maybe the way to go. But who decides what is the truth? | garry |
| One person one vote | Peter |
| No. | Trevor |
| Seperate Maori seats are undemocratic, racist and unneccessary to Maori representation. Why have they survived? Because no politician has had the fortitude to face the hostile reaction. Perhaps the hostility from the affirmative side needs to drive this. | Geoff |
| We need true democracy not separatism. | wilf |
| There is no actual need for them as there was in the 19th century. Maori as it stands are overrepresented. | Rosemary |
| No | Martin |
| Should have been abolished 133 years ago. | Alister |
| definitely not not needed | rodger |
| NO! Look at their performance at Waitangi and the way they dress and behave in “The House of Representatives”. Talk about bring on the clowns. We are all equal and I am more than happy to vote for a Maori candidate if his party have the right policies but to continue with or increase the number of Maori seats would truly be a recipe for disaster. The country would be stuffed. God Defend New Zealand! | Bruce |
| give them 10c but they will want a dollar | Ian |
| Definitely NO | N |
| Maori seats are not necessary and they are an example of racism. | Alison |
| Maori seats are racial discrimination!!! | Brian |
| They just cause more separation | Jake |
| Intermarriage has brought about a great change from the original racial mix of the country. We are no longer Maori and Pakeha, we are blended. | Peter |
| Equal opportunities for all as shown at present in all Parties at present. | carolyn |
| All citizens equal not seperated by colour our birthright. | Stephen |
| Muriel has articulated the position very well, as did the 1986 electoral commission, Bill English and Don Brash. | Chris |
| We are all one people! Equal | Sandra |
| The ‘temporary’ reason has now been achieved and the seats are now a vehicle for Te Pati Maori activism that actively tries to undermine our Westminster system. | John |
| Well past use by date!! | Jim |
| Of course not. The case for abolition of the Maori seats has been carefully reasoned and proposed on numerous occasions and abolition should be a formality. The government must take action at once | Terry |
| Maori seats should have been abolished years aago. | margaret |
| Maori are New Zealanders and their is no need for separate race based politics | Nick |
| We are all equal | Sharon |
| It’s a total nonsense that needs to place all NZ’ers on a level playing field. Out the Maori seats must go. | Johnboy |
| We are one country in which separate Maori seats are a divisive anachronism. | Margaret |
| This ludicrous situation has already gone on far too long. It has no valid reason to exist now, and MUST be scrapped. | TOBY |
| Should have been taken away in the 1880s | Terry D |
| Separate Maoris seats in NZ Parliament are the very essence of the APARTHEID which exists in NZ. | Geoffrey |
| There should be no special treatment one race over another. We are all equal | Malcolm |
| He iwi tahi tatou / we are one people | John |
| No Justifiable reason | Tony |
| “WE ARE NOW ONE PEOPLE” | Rod |
| Be careful that the cure is not worse than the disease, meaning that the displaced voters from the Maori seats will be spread across the general seats and most of them vote for Labour and we have had some very close margins for some Electoral seats, so we may see a lot more Labour Govts. running this country down as they are prone to do and they have always done less for Maori than other Govts. that we have had. | Robin |
| Time to remove all traces of separatism in our parliament. Maori are quite able to be members of parliament without scoring extra seats by default. | Dianne |
| No special rights based on ethnicity, EVER. New Zealand must never go down the apartheid route. | Logan |
| There should be no ethnic or cultural bias in a democratic election. Get off the fence National, and keep your promise NZ 1st | Gaye |
| Stand on Merit, or dont stand at all. Maori are not special | Mark |
| Race based seats are not going to improve the appalling statistics of failure and problems that many wirh Maori heritage face through being ignored by their Tribal Elite who are not giving them any support in Parliament and who are only concerned for their own selfish greedy gravy trains to keep operating. | June |
| Absolutely not, they are no longer relative. | peter |
| The statement by Prof Joseph and Bill English clearly defines that Maori seats must be abolished. I agree 100% | SARA |
| It is well past time we govern, and are governed as one people with equal rights for all New Zealanders. | FL David & Avril P |
| This really separatis our great little country again we have been hi jacked by extremists | Chris |
| They obviously need to go. But wait for the blow back. The sun is setting on the fence sitting Nats. | Edward |
| Maori seats should have been abolished years ago | Laurie |
| MOST, MOST, MOST definitely NOT. They are simply REVERSE racism and are therefore stuffing our wonderful NEW ZEALAND. | Brian |
| They are well represented in the House and Caucus. Separatism is not an option for a united country | Brian |
| one country one people,I said this on a facebook site and was amazed at the number of violent hateful uninformed replies!!!! | stephen |
| It was promised with MMP | William |
| “We are one people” | AndyE |
| The referendum should be held prior to the next elections, methinks | Obiwan |
| It’s time for democracy to come first | George |
| also abolish the treaty | peter |
| One people one vote one country | John |
| Race based separatism must end with all New Zealanders given equality under law. | Karen |
| History has shown that Maori representation in our parliament has been just a thin end of the wedge for further take over of the voting numbers without the percentage of the population backing them in a democratic society where decision effect us all. | John |
| NZ can not be a nation of equals until race based seats and race based legislation is abolished. | LC |
| Of course not. Parliament should have followed the recommendations of the royal commission at the time of introducing MMP. It is a disgrace. | Scott |
| They are all descendants of Maori and other races.There are NO full blooded Maori left in NZ | Linda |
| Long overdue to be abloished | Janette |
| We are all one people in NZ lets all be one and make this country great like the old days | Richard |
| MOST, MOST, MOST definitely NOT. This is simply REVERSE racism and they MUST be wiped. | Brian |
| There is no reason for them | noel |
| The dedicated Maori seats in Parliament are an unwarranted and totally unjustified anachronism. Maori have EXACTLY THE SAME entitlement and right to stand for / put themselves up for / forward for electoral seats as any other / every other New Zealander , as well as for Local Body representation. Even without the designated Maori seats Maori in Parliament, are significantly proportionally over-represented in the House. Similarly dedicated Maori Ward seats in Local Body areas are an unjustified anachronism with Maori again having the IDENTICAL entitlement and right to put themselves forward for election to Council as any other ratepayer. The dedicated Maori seats in Parliament and the Maori Ward seats at Local Government level , are obviously clearly race-based , contrary to the ‘equality of citizenship before the law’ mandated in, and a central condition of , the Treaty of Waitangi. They are unquestionably divisive , if not destructive, of our society and should be abolished – and the sooner the better. The incumbents have no interest in the wider interests of New Zealand as an overall liberal democratic society. They are interested SOLELY in ‘what is in it for Maori’ and in gaining whatever advantages, benefits, privileges and entitlements they can for Maori , to the direct exclusion and permanent detriment of all non-Maori citizens or ratepayers ( at Local Body level) as the case may be . Both MUST be urgently and permanently abolished . They are a totally unwarranted , unjustified and divisive anachronism . National have let us down very badly in the past by not honouring their undertakings where this is concerned . WE want action- not just words . | Hugh |
| Seperatist, disproportionate and non democratic. Candidates should be elected on policy and merit, not personality or race. | Gary |
| Most certainly NOT. It is discriminatory. Should be decided by the whole population, not by just a few politicians wanting to feather their own nest. | Anon |
| Abolish all racist structures in New Zealand | Neville |
| No special treatment | rod |
| Racist and proportion of Maori in parliament confirms that they are no longer necessary. Are Maori inferior so that they need special provisions for them to succeed. | Peter |
| Absolutely not. | David |
| one class of citizenship for NZ – if Maori want to return to triable warfare and cannibalism just keep Maori seats and the current 2 class society | DAVID |
| Quite unnecessary to have seats in our Parliament based on ethnicity. | John |
| but who has the strength to abolish them? | mike |
| Undemocratic | Noel |
| Now is the Time to right the errors of the past….United we stand Divided we will fall. As a Nation we need every Grain of Hope we can gather. | Chris |
| They have long outlived their purpose. | Liz |
| Firstly it is discrimatory and secondly there are already sufficient Maori MPs in Parliament to care for the needs of Maori folk. | Brian |
| If all of the 150 cultures in NZ had their own Parliamentary seat there would be discord and an even larger segregation of NZ. No to Maori seats. | Kathryn |
| True democracy is one person, one vote irrespective of ethnicity | Anne |
| NO NO NO | Donald |
| We should all have equal rights and our votes should all be equal | Symon |
| The sooner the better | Donald |
| Currently Maori MPS make up 27% of seats in Parliament | Grant |
| Has become racism by law. A sad joke. | Alec |
| Please do away with them, they make a mockery of our government. | Fraser |
| this is the base that effectively gives rise to the seratism rights that pervade much of our current legislation. there should be only one standard of citizenship | graham |
| Whilst I wholeheartedly support NZ First with this great option in Election year ,I tend to regard Winston’s brave venture to be another hollow promise ,to maintain a position in government . Let us NOT forget his disastrous partnering with the Tooth Fairy and subsequent unapparelled bankrupting New Zealand on may levels . Me thinks Winnie will do anything to maintain any his presence in any government including the half wit TPM party . Sadly Winnie your word are of no value ,failure to back Acts principals Bill showed your true colours .I simply dont trust you anymore . | Ray |
| No longer relevant | Phil |
| I certainly won’t vote fof National unless they categorically support abolition of this crazy race based anti democratic system which is a disgrace to NZ. | Clive |
| We can say no adfinitum but no one will have the guts to get rid of them. It will end up like Acts Treaty bill | clive |
| Fair voting for New Zealanders already exist. No one should be treated differently. | Carol |
| They were only ever considered as a temporary measure. | Ian |
| Of course not. It’s a no-brainer! | Colin |
| Maori are ‘over represented’ in Government these days and no longer need the assured voice that they once did. Equal rights for all people in New Zealand | Bill |
| NO, no, and again no! Not needed and definitely undemocratic. High time they were abolished. | Lee |
| We are all New Zealanders, our country is New Zealand known through the world as such and we ALL live in a democracy. Basically Maori are trying to install a form of Apartheid and if you speak out about it and you are labeled ‘Racist’. Enough is Enough, we need to be looking after our country and all that choose to make it equal and care for each other together | Colleen |
| To have seats based on Race is racial and divisive. We want a society based on equality NOT race. | Ross |
| Should there be separate seats for other ethnicities? The Treaty gave “Equal Rights” not, special privilege.. | Anthony |
| MMP was predicated on no Maori seats | louis |
| Well past its use by date. The original introduction of the Maori seats has been determined and they should have been removed many years ago. Unfortunately those who hold a more radical view point will argue that they should be retained. Maori are better than this premise as they have displayed by their representation in parliament. | chris |
| Intermarriage means that there are less full blood Maori! | Neville |
| NO to separatism. We are EQUAL | mike |
| obvious!! | Chester |
| Same rights and same rules for all. | Mark |
| If there are Maori seats then “we” should have “Mandarin” seats, Cantonese seats, Afrikaans Seats….. ISIS seats ???? | charles |
| Its already too late – laws have all been inserted with Treaty requirements including all Crown depts under public services act 2020 by Ardern/Labour | Bob |
| The Maori seats are discriminatory and racist. It is a pathway and that’s not available to other ethnic groups. | Alan |
| Hard to believe this is even a thing that needs to be discussed. The very essence of separate race based seats is discriminatory and anyone who can’t see that is either blind or has an ulterior motive/benefit in retianing them. | Shane |
| No is self explanatory. | Mick |
| should have been removed years ago! | Reg |
| NO. Time has moved on from when there was a need for them, Maori have no need to be spoon fed to be relevant in the future of NZ. | Gary |
| Definitely not | Graeme |
| There should be no raced based politics. We should be one people | Deb |
| of course not. Labour’s attempt to entrench them says everything you need to know. | ken |
| Get rid of that pronto. Nothing but confusion comes from this obsolete arangement. | Michael |
| They already have more representation than the percentage of the population so no need. | John |
| NZ already has too much self interest in Parliament, When can we see the best interests of the nation being the priority. | Maurice |
| They should have been abolished when MMP became our system of voting which the commission suggested then. | Bev |
| They have served their purpose | John |
| One people one law | Carl |
| They are in total conflict with democracy. | Dave |
| Imagine how the Opportunities Party will feel if it gains the same or similar election percentage as TMP. It will not obtain parliamentary representation.The system is gross. Luxon needs to grow a pair! | Paul |
| We can already see what will unfold if they are not abolished | sandra |
| They are no longer need as explained in your piece Muriel | Ian |
| Racist | Charles |
| If National don’t bring their promise foward, they are toast and won’t be trusted for many years after the next election. | John |
| Having separate Seats is definitely non-democratic. One vote for every eligible voter is the only true form of democracy. | Gifford |
| certainly not, it is racially divisive | Robert |
| Should have been abolished with the introduction of the universal franchise as was the case for Chinese miners. | Graeme |
| Undemocratic | Les |
| It has been clearly established that in this day and age there is no need for them to be there We have sensible Maori MPs in parliament on both sides of the house and then we have continued in recent times to accommodate the lunatics know as the Maori party Taken purely on a race priory base which is wrong the Maori As as race are over represented It is a given that a vast majority of Maori are not alined with the Lunatic fringe TPM Grievances are contrived for the sole purpose of Shit stirring The Waitangi tribunal disestablish and all reference to race remove from the statue books a must Colonialism was a gift some garbed others missed the boat tuff no one can change that But if the disenchanted took the advantages they now have what a wonderful life they would have You can’t change serial moaners | Bruce |
| We should all be equal and have no race based priveledges in our democracy | Peter |
| No race should have any priority or privilege | Dck |
| Should have been discontinued when mmp was introduced, if not sooner | Alec |
| With 33 politicians claiming maori ‘heritage’ ? I believe NOT ! There’s no way I would be allowed to be in the Polish Parliament claiming Polish heritage ..or the French ? or German so WHY do they get special treatment ? we ALL bleed RED and hopefully, we are ALL humans … | Naine |
| Definitely not, Patronising to Maori, who have more than proved they are perfectly capable of holding their own in politics. | Roseanne |
| Not only do we not need separate maori seats, we have too many politicians already | Maurice |
| The problem with NZ First is that they raised this in 2017 and made it a bottom line. During coalition talks with Labour they never even mentioned it – thus betraying their voters. I believe this is a rinse and repeat – and Peters will again betray his voters while telling lies. | Brenton |
| NO- absolutely not!!! Long past time they were abolished. | Roger |
| Long past there use date now that 28% of all MP’s have Maori blood, so have already past the 18% threshold. | John |
| NO | Owen |
| Your article clearly states the reason of the abolition of the Maori Seats. I agree 100% with your statement-p-they should go ASAP. The Nats have flirted with this for 50 years but have not had the guts to act. as they should. | William |
| This is separate representation by colour and race and is not democratic as parliament should be | Malcolm |
| One nation, one people. | Wayne |
| They are not needed and racist | Hamilton |
| I don’t see what the problem is. The political parties can slow-walk the idea through Parliament or get a majority decision through a referendum. WHATS THE BLOODY PROBLEM?? | Rex |
| Absolutely not!!!!! Racist legislation of any kind is an abomination | Richard |
| Race based seats is the beginning of apartheid. No thank you to that. | Kevin |
| Separate Maori seats are a potential disaster for NZ | Gordon |
| It would be better to just remove them as is possible by government with a simple majority. There is always the possibility that the referendum goes against removing them and thus entrenches them! | Allen |
| Reverse racism never work’s | John |
| Get rid of them. | john |
| It is racist and Maori acknowledge that | Doug |
| These seats are an anachronism and long past their original purpose. They are exacerbating racial hatred in NZ. | Mike |
| ALL Maori privilege should be GONE BY LUNCHTIME! | Steve |
| No no no no no!!!!! We are all one! | Joe |
| They make no sense and never have | Mark |
| NO! 1 person 1 vote, what race you are is irrelevant. | peter |
| They should have been gone long ago, | Richard |
| Further, there should be a national referendum on this matter this coming election | Don |
| Absolutely not for all the reasons outlined by most, excepting the Maori Party. | Ranee |
| Time to end Maori seats – definitely! | Peter |
| No .. No and NO! Maori deserve NO special treatment. Get rid of them for ever! | Des |
| The logic for these is no longer valid | John |
| Based on the racist bias and the unsavory Maori parliamentarians | Ian |
| NO | Ken |
| Discrimination by race should not be a part of our voting system | Rick |
| Separate seats is racial discrimination in disguise. The word separate implies ‘them’ vs ‘us’. | Dave |
| Absolutely not. | Peter |
| Clearly discriminatory! | Mike |
| seperate Maori seats are an insult to the thinking and hardworking part Maori workers | Ruth |
| Maori have a very fair representation in parliament | Geoff |
| Get rid of them asap | Michael |
| Maori seats should have abolished decades ago. | Sheila |
| There’s no need for them anymore. | John |
| We are all given equal rights as NZ citizens. Having separate seats for one race in Parliament is in fact racist. It needs to stop, now! | John |
| They are an anachronym which should be voted out by Parliamentary majority or – preferably by a binding referendum. The politicians have proved in the past, that they’re to gutless to get rid of them | Steve |
| Equal rights for everyone No special privileges for Maori | Brenda |
| Of course not. However, given that Winston apparently didn’t even raise the topic during his coalition negotiations with Labour following the 2017 election, I wouldn’t be surprised if he reneged on this commitment following this year’s election. | Alan |
| No seats based on race and therefore no advance to one race | Tiffany |
| The quoted figures all support the fact that Maoris are over represented in our Parliament at present. The Maori seats should at last be removed from our Parliament before the election. | CHRIS |
| Abolition of MAORI seats L O N G overdue | Gill |
| Require equal representation for all citizens in NZ Parliament. | Bruce |
| Absolutely not for all the reasons given in Muriel Newman letter, plus the fact that most Maori have more pakeha blood in them the. Maori blood. They just identify as Maori which is convenient for them | Gail |
| Not required, long past the used by date … maori have had equal rights as all other citizens – still do!!! | Arthur |
| No way. | Chris |
| No special treatment for the canoe people. Only if we are all treated equally, same rights and obligations, with no race, religion or gender in our laws, can we grow into a great community in a beautiful land. | Leonard |
| separate seats are racist | Collin |
| I am part Maori and consider myself a NZer and not racially aligned. so see no need for groups focusing on just themselves and not ye common good | Alan |
| It’s ridiculous to have seperate seats for different races when as is proved that Maori are quite able to hold seats in all other parties when voted for! It’s time we stopped pampering to a minor race because they are forever squeaking away and want the oil, By no means should these people have separate seats or given places on councils if not voted for | Laurie |
| NO. Simple. | Grahame |
| NO..NO..NO Time for ALL this TREATY B.S. to be FINISHED WITH……PERIOD!! MAKE THEM ALL GO AWAY… FOREVER!! | David |
| Maori are well and truly over represented in our parliament according to there percentage of our total NZ population. I bet Mr Luxon and the National Party will be in all favor of hanging on to them for as long as they possibly can though. | Paul |
| They should have been abolished in 1879 when personal property ownership ceased to be a qualification for enfranchisement. | David |
| The provision for Separate Maori Seats was only ever a temporary measure. Given that Maori are now highly represented in Government the need for compulsory Maori Seats has passed | Barry |
| They should have been abolished years ago. | Treva |
| We are one country with people from many nations. | Chris |
| One country – one people | Gillian |
| Not needed | John |
| Tomorrow. | Murray |
| Absolutely not. | Laura |
| They’re racist and should never have been allowed. | John |
| Well beyond “sell by” date. A | Andrew |
| Definitely not | Leon |
| 100% NO. All references to race based legislation must be deleted otherwise this country is doomed | Gareth |
| We are one under the sun | T |
| Democracy is about being ONE PEOPLE NO PREFERENCE OF ANY RACE! | DOMINIQUE GREENSLADE |
| Should be long gone only held in place by Labour | chris |
| Abolish Maori seats | Kylie |
| As David writes, “%u2013 the Maori seats should have been abolished back when MMP was introduced in 1996..” I am surprised at Harry’s puzzlement in asking , “..We now need to know where National sits…” because Lux Flakes adoration of maorification is plain for all to see. | Vernon |
| A significant increase in the maori electoral role could result in a major disruption to democracy. Entrenchment of race preference and tribalism will under MMP rules lead to Maori dominance in NZ Parliament and threaten the peaceful life of NZ citizens of all races. | Stan |
| One nation .. one rule for all | kabe |
| Never should have been once MMP was implimented. National urgently need to fix their past wrong cave ins by siding with act and nz first and let the voters decide in a binding referendum. | Allan |
| Its outdated and being misused,Expect high pitched screams from Moari in high places that its racist…its NOT. | Gavin |
| The Treaty only gives maori british citizenship, notning more! Same as any British immigrants! They were given special seats in Parliament because they were considered stupid and illiterate and wouldn’t understand the process of voting. Now they very much understand the process and know very much how to manipulate it! Time is well and truly up! Like 100 years up! | Peter |
| They are a small minority of the NZ population and we should all be treated as one country and one people. | Chris |
| One people. Itermarriage solves all. Just like Matinique in the Carribean | Derek |
| Of course not. NZ needs to be a modern democracy. Special seats for a particular ethnicity is racist. Maori have adequate representation via the general roll. | Steve |
| Absolutely not, there’s nothing to justify favoritism and racial inequality, especially for a race so criminally inclined as maori | ailsa |
| I believe the strongest point you have made is that it is about time our major parties stepped up to some accountability and responsibility on behalf of New Zealanders with this issue. | Andrew |
| National are all hui and no dui. | Evans |
| Not only should they be abolished, so should all legislation that has any mention of separatism. ONE VOTE. ONE FLAG | Elizabeth |
| One law for all. | Anon |
| Absolutely NO. It is a travesty to our democracy that politicians reneged on abolishing Maori Seats in Parliament in 1996, as was the intention when MMP began. These racist seats (in both Parliament and in Local/Regional government) are nothing less than apartheid. Abolish them all NOW. No need to wait for a referendum. In the 2026 election there must be only one class of voter in New Zealand, and that is “New Zealander”. Shame on all politicians who think otherwise. Additionally, the Maori Party must be kicked out of Parliament with urgency – permanently. They fail to meet their legal reporting obligations year after year, and they just laugh at all other Kiwis. They are nothing short of a terrorist organisation who make no secret of their aim to overthrow the democratically elected government of New Zealand. Bring back the treason laws, please! | Colin |
| Representation by race has been achieved without the Maori seats. The result is now disproportionate. | Bruno |
| WE ARE ONE! | Doug |
| There is plenty of part Maori in parliament now without the dick head Maori Party. Luxon must know that he will be gone as the PM if he fails to support the majority of NZ voters. | Steve |
| It’s racist | Catherine |
| These should have been discontinued when MMP was introduced, as recommended by the Electoral Commission. | Rod |
| It’s racist to keep them | David |
| Imperative that the Maori seats are removed from Parliament | Noel |
| Absolutely not,time to move on as a united country | John |
| We are one people with equal rights. One person one vote. Any departure is wrong. | Carl |
| Well past their use by date. | John |
| Emphasizes apartheid in NZ. Need to get back k to one country, one people. Apparently no need for it as Maori are over represented in parliament anyway. | Rob |
| No way. They are not needed anymore as the maoris can stand on their own two feet | diana |
| It is ridiculous | Graham |
| Maori are well represented in Parliament and no longer need the patronising protection of dedicated Maori seats. They should have been abolished with the introduction of MMP. | David |
| Definitely not. | Murray |
| One country, one nation, one people | |
| One EQUAL vote for all | Ian |
| Everyone to be treated the same. | Ian |
| No need for them at all! | Hilda |
| These seats sit outside the Treaty. They are not and never have been of right. They were an act of pariliment and only intended as a tempery measure. Their intended purpose has long since past. They should have last gone when MMP was birthed and well before that. They were given a further extention in the 1970s when parliment redefined what a Maori is, hence Race is an invention and fabrication of parliment. Race has no business in governing the affairs of state or society. We are all of mixed genetic heritage. Those aspects we choose to identify with in our make up is a personal matter, not one that should be forced on others or decreed by govt. | Brett |
| Only Parties who wish to abolish the Maori seats are honouring the Treaty. | Grant |
| Maori. have the same rights,if not MORE RIGHTS, than other KIWIS…! so lets’ get rid of ALL OF THE RACIST MAARI SEATS… Once and for ALL, AND MAKE The ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPULSORY FOR ALL KIWIWS! lets have one LANGUAGE FOR ALL!! | David |
| No – their “use by” date expired long ago – the longer they are allowed to exist the more divided we become as a nation. Whatever use or purpose they ever served has degenerated to the point where they have become a means of disruption, useful only to separatist entities who are equally degenerate. Once more we see a move to do away with them. Could we please, this time around, see it actually happen? | Scott |
| Maori now do not need them. One country one people | Neville |
| Absolutely – the Maori seats should have been abolished back when MMP was introduced in 1996. Shame on National for caving in. | David |
| Yes, yes, yes! The Maori seats have become a hotbed of radical activism that aims to destroy democracy. They have no place in our Parliament. | Maureen |
| Can Winston Peters be trusted? That is the big question. | Phil |
| Good on NZF for putting this issue back on the agenda. And good on ACT for supporting it. We now need to know where National sits – and for goodness sake I hope they don’t let us all down! | Harry |
| Here’s hoping the Coalition sees sense and decides to hold a binding referendum on the Maori seats at the November election! | Sam |