Post by Kiwi Frontline on Oct 13, 2017 18:04:07 GMT 12
MĀORI REPRESENTATION ACT INTRODUCED 150 YEARS AGO
10 October 2017 marked 150 years since the introduction of the Māori Representation Act 1867.
The Act was considered a radical document at the time as, prior to its introduction, European politicians controlled Parliament and the rights of the indigenous people were not always considered in the government’s law-making process.
Upon its passage, the Act had two major impacts: Four Māori electorates were established, three in the North Island and one in the South Island, and ALL Māori men aged from 21 years were given the right to vote; previously only men aged 21 and over who owned property under individual property ownership laws had this right.
The beginning
Before the Māori Representation Act 1867, laws surrounding voting rights were meant to be colour-blind, but they are widely seen as having favoured European settlers.
Voting law was established based on the traditional European laws of individual property ownership titles; if an individual owned property, they could vote. Māori owned property communally, no individual retained full ownership, so many didn’t participate in elections.......
www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/latest-news/news/mori-representation-act-introduced-150-years-ago
10 October 2017 marked 150 years since the introduction of the Māori Representation Act 1867.
The Act was considered a radical document at the time as, prior to its introduction, European politicians controlled Parliament and the rights of the indigenous people were not always considered in the government’s law-making process.
Upon its passage, the Act had two major impacts: Four Māori electorates were established, three in the North Island and one in the South Island, and ALL Māori men aged from 21 years were given the right to vote; previously only men aged 21 and over who owned property under individual property ownership laws had this right.
The beginning
Before the Māori Representation Act 1867, laws surrounding voting rights were meant to be colour-blind, but they are widely seen as having favoured European settlers.
Voting law was established based on the traditional European laws of individual property ownership titles; if an individual owned property, they could vote. Māori owned property communally, no individual retained full ownership, so many didn’t participate in elections.......
www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/latest-news/news/mori-representation-act-introduced-150-years-ago