October 01, 2014
Voters shifting from Maori seats
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is backing calls for a fresh look at the future of the Maori seats.
Former Te Tai Tokerau MP Dover Samuels says with 26 MPs in the new parliament being of Maori descent, it was time Maori had an informed debate on whether the seven Maori seats are needed to guarantee Maori representation.
Mr Peters says the debate has already happened, and the majority of Maori have spoken.
"The majority of people who would be qualified to be on the Maori roll are not on the Maori roll, they've chosen a general roll. There's been a kind of informal referendum going on for some time and I do not think that the Maori Party and the Mana Party, despite all the hype and the talk, have been able to demonstrate otherwise. That's why between the two of those parties they have now got two members and even one of those may be doubtful on the final count," he says.
Former Alliance MP Willie Jackson says having Maori MPs means little if they don't fight for Maori interests, and that's particularly the responsibility of Maori seat MPs.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WINSTON PETERS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjI3MDA=
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