Māori Seats Are Constitutional, Not Conditional – Te Pati Māori

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi says New Zealand First’s proposed referendum on the Māori seats is a constitutional attack driven by fear of Māori political power.

“Māori representation in Parliament is not conditional on whether Winston Peters approves of how Māori MPs behave,” said Waititi.

“The era of being told to be good Māori is over. The Māori seats exist because of our constitutional history and the systematic exclusion of Māori from power. They are not a privilege that can be revoked when someone is uncomfortable with our strength.”

“The Māori electorates were created in 1867 to keep Māori out of Parliament, not give us representation,” Waititi said.

“Māori far outnumbered Pākehā when Parliament was established. If we’d had equal voting rights, every MP, including the Prime Minister, would have been Māori. The four seats were designed to cap our power at a level that kept us politically powerless.”

“We have reclaimed them and made them instruments of rangatiratanga. They are guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

Te Pāti Māori is challenging the Prime Minister to immediately rule out the referendum.

“If Chris Luxon has any credibility, he would immediately rule out a referendum on the constitutional status of Māori representation,” said Waititi.

“The Māori electorates belong to te iwi Māori. They cannot be voted away by those who fear our political strength.”

“Every major poll shows Te Pāti Māori will be kingmaker this election,” Waititi concluded.

“When we form the next government, we will entrench the Māori seats in the constitution beyond the reach of referendums driven by fear and colonial reflex.”