Maori Seats

The Parliamentary Maori seats have been with us for around 150 years, despite the intention they only be for five to ten years. Having now had them for this long, I can see why some people don’t want them to be removed.

Far less defensible though is Labour’s appaling law change to allow local bodies to set up special Maori-only wards. Dividing even more electors up on the basis of race is appalling. It will also become more and more farcical as more and more NZers will have some Maori ancestry.

I read today that the Rotorua District Council is considering having dedicated Maori seats even though one-third of the current Council are Maori.

Labour’s legislation moves NZ to a Fiji style country where racial quotas are enshrined. It is not the future I want for NZ.