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Māori MPs are expressing alarm at the progress of the current Māori Electoral Option, which is looking unlikely to increase the number of Māori seats.
Labour’s Associate Maori Affairs spokesperson, Rino Tirikatene, says at the halfway point the Māori roll has only increased by just under 5000 voters, including first time enrolments, compared with almost 7500 net enrolments at the half way point in 2006.
So far the number of people shifting from the general to the Māori roll has almost been cancelled out by the number shifting the other way.
Mr Tirikatene says the Labour Māori Caucus is calling on whānau, hapū and iwi around the country to work together to increase the number of Māori signing up to the Māori roll.
He says if Māori continue to disengage from the political process it could have far reaching consequences in terms of the ability to overcome historical inequalities and discrimination.
Meanwhile, the Māori Party caucus met with the Chief Electoral Officer yesterday to discuss the Māori Electoral Option.
Te Ururoa Flavell says the party is extremely dissatisfied at the efforts made to encourage Māori voters to get on the electoral roll.
He says despite the $5 million spent on the option, the messages are not reaching whanau in a meaningful way.
Early voting started today in the Ikaroa Rawhiti by-election, with 22 places from the East Cape to the Hutt Valley where people can cast their ballots before the June 29 election.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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