Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 3, 2018 17:09:45 GMT 12
PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER ENTRENCHING MAORI SEATS - BALL IN NZ FIRST'S COURT
Parliament will consider a Labour MP's bill to entrench the Maori seats so they cannot be easily abolished – but the move could be defeated by NZ First and National joining forces to vote against it.
The bill to entrench the Maori seats by Labour MP Rino Tirikatene was drawn from the ballot today.
It would mean the Maori seats were treated the same as general electorates in the Electoral Act – and could not be dismantled without a 75 per cent vote of MPs or a public referendum.
It is likely to get support from Labour and the Greens but could prove a divisive issue for the Government.
The casting vote would likely be NZ First, whose leader Winston Peters campaigned on holding a referendum to abolish the Maori seats during the last campaign and has railed against "separatism" such as Maori seats on councils. NZ First has not stood in the Maori seats for several elections.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12044327
Parliament will consider a Labour MP's bill to entrench the Maori seats so they cannot be easily abolished – but the move could be defeated by NZ First and National joining forces to vote against it.
The bill to entrench the Maori seats by Labour MP Rino Tirikatene was drawn from the ballot today.
It would mean the Maori seats were treated the same as general electorates in the Electoral Act – and could not be dismantled without a 75 per cent vote of MPs or a public referendum.
It is likely to get support from Labour and the Greens but could prove a divisive issue for the Government.
The casting vote would likely be NZ First, whose leader Winston Peters campaigned on holding a referendum to abolish the Maori seats during the last campaign and has railed against "separatism" such as Maori seats on councils. NZ First has not stood in the Maori seats for several elections.
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12044327