Race based seats survive

Instinctively I don’t like electoral systems where participation is divided up on grounds of race. Fiji gives a good example of the perils from that approach.

However I can understand (even if not agreeing) why some people are reluctant to remove the Maori seats in Parliament. Taking something away unilaterally, after 100 years of having them, can cause resentment. Nevertheless I hope one day we will do as the Royal Commission recommended and abolish them, instead lowering the threshold for party representation. It would be preferable this is done with widespread consensus.

However what I can’t understand is why on earth Labour decided to introduce further race based seats at local government level. It was not a step in the right direction in my opinion. While well intentioned, such seats can only become divisive over time. Where does it end?

So it was disappointing that Tony Ryall’s Local Electoral (Repeal of Race-Based Representation) Amendment Bill failed its first reading last night by 56-62. One can only be amused that No Right Turn labels a bill to repeal race based local body seats as “bad, racist legislation”. No, that’s the current law.

The vote on the bill was:

For 56

National 48
NZ First 7
Copeland 1

Against 62

Labour 49
Green 6
Maori 3
Disunited Future 2
Progressive 1
Field 1

If United Future had voted in favour (which I am sure 95% of their voters would have wanted them to) and ACT had voted, it would have survived to select committee. People should make sure they ask United Future candidates why they support race based seats for local bodies.