Maori Party

Matt McCarten writes on how the Maori Party may hold the balance of power after the next election, predicting they will win all seven Maori seats.

It is highly likely there will be more than seven Maori seats next election. It could be ten or greater depending on how many Maori swap to the Maori roll.

And the overhang gerrymander gives a great incentive to go onto the Maori roll. The Maori Party could well end up with winning seats on the basis of half as many party votes as other parties need. Proportionality will be broken and there could well be moves made to change the law, but time will tell.