August 26, 2016
Attempt to entrench Maori seats from Brash threat
Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene is hoping for broad cross party support if his bill to protect the Maori seats gets pulled from the biscuit tin.
The bill, which is in the ballot with 80 other member’s bills, would require a 75 percent vote of parliament to change or abolish the Maori seats.
That brings it in line with the constitutional protections enjoyed by general seats.
"They are vulnerable and they can be abolished by a simple parliamentary majority. People might say 'that will never happen' but we have heard the likes of Don Brash come out, we've heard New Zealand First come out and say their policy is to abolish Maori seats, That is why I am putting this bill forward," Mr Tirikatene says.
He says the Maori seats were created as a way to fulfil the promise of the Treaty of Waitangi and need to be protected.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com