The 32 Māori MPs

The Parliament of 122 MPs has a record 32 who are Māori. This represents 26% of Parliament, which is approximately twice the 13.7% of the adult population who are Māori. This is a good thing that Māori New Zealanders are so well represented, and contradicts the narrative that the system is somehow hostile to Māori.

So who makes up the 32 MPs. Let’s break it down by the six parties.

Labour – Nine MPs out of 34 (26%). Labour has seven List MPs who are Māori, one Māori seat and one Māori MP who won a general seat.

Greens – Six MPs out of 15 (40%). Five List MPs and one Māori MP who won a general seat.

Te Pāti Māori – Six MPs out of six (100%). Six Māori seat MPs.

National – Five MPs out of 48 (10%). All five won general seats.

NZ First – Four MPs out of eight (50%). All List MPs.

ACT – Three MPs out of 11 (27%). One Māori MP who won a general seat and two List MPs.

This shows that there is no unified view on behalf of Māori. Five of the six parties have a greater proportion of Māori MPs than the adult population, and one has slightly fewer.

National is the party that is most successful at selecting Māori candidates in general seats.

Te Pāti Māori of course holds the most Māori seats.

Labour has the most List MPs who are Māori.

NZ First has the highest proportion of their caucus Māori, after Te Pāti Māori.