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Te Pāti Māori says the return of three strikes will further entrench racism in the justice system while having no effect on crime.
Spokesperson Tākuta Ferris told the Justice Select Committee the Sentencing Amendment Bill will exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in prisons.
Despite being only 20 percent of the total population, Māori make up half of the prison population.
Under the previous three strikes law, Māori and Pasifika received over half of the strikes, 63 percent of those with a second strike were Māori, and 82 percent of people who received a third strike sentence were Māori.
Mr Ferris says evidence shows three strikes neither reduces crime nor assists with rehabilitation.
Te Pati Maori is calling for Maori too oversee their own tikanga-based models of restorative justice.
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