Lab. policy provides for five Maori seats

Press, 29 July 1987, Page 8

Lab. policy provides for five Maori seats

By

BRENDON BURNS,

political reporter

Labour’s Maori policy released yesterday said the party would press for Increased numbers of Maori seats.

Maori people were seriously under-represented, compared with their numbers in the total population, it said. But the policy stops well short of promising the increase to 10 Maori seats recommended by Labour’s Maori policy committee. It said the increased number of seats it would seek would be determined as closely as possible to the way general seats are determined.

On present rolls, this would at most require a single extra Maori seat.

Last election, the number of Maoris in each of the four Maori seats was only marginally above the total for each general seat.

The number of Maoris actually voting was also significantly below the average turn-out for each general electorate. Since 1984, the average number of Maori people in each Maori seat has increased to nearly 37,000 people. But all general electorates have at least 31,000 residents. The Labour policy reaffirms the right of Maori people to have' separate

representation for as long as they wish. But its wording avoids any reference to the 10 seats sought by Labour’s Maori policy committee.

“For as long as Maori seats remain, Labour will continue to press for increased numbers in terms as close as possible to the way general seats are determined.” Earlier this month, the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said it was up to Maori people to decide the number of Maori seats. He said they had the right to be in general seats, which many have opted for, or Maori electorates. “It should be for them

to determine the level and to a certain extent when it comes to questions of registration, they vote with their feet.” He said an increase from four to 10 seats, based on the total Maori population on both Maori and general rolls, would be extraordinary. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolder, last evening repeated his view that any such increase would be a New Zealand version of apartheid.

“New Zealanders should all eventually be on a common roll," he said. It was good news that increasing numbers of Maoris were joining the general roll, said Mr Bolger.