Post by Kiwi Frontline on Sept 7, 2018 17:36:24 GMT 12
BILL TO ENTRENCH THE MĀORI SEATS PASSES FIRST HURDLE WITH SUPPORT FROM OPPONENT
A bill entrenching the Māori seats into New Zealand electoral law – requiring a 75 per cent majority of Parliament to get rid of them - has passed its first reading in Parliament because it was supported by New Zealand First, which opposes the Māori seats.
New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball said the party believed the issue of the Māori seats should be put to a binding public referendum and the bill was an opportunity to do that.
He said later that the referendum would be on entrenching the seats or abolishing the seats. If the party could not get that amendment passed it would not support the bill.
Tirikatene said it was a small but significant bill.
"It cuts to the heart of the representation and the status of the Māori seats in this House."
He said the general seats could be abolished only by a 75 per cent majority but the Māori seats could be abolished by a simple majority.
"There is an imbalance there and my bill seeks to raise us to an equal standard with the general seats."....
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12119877
A bill entrenching the Māori seats into New Zealand electoral law – requiring a 75 per cent majority of Parliament to get rid of them - has passed its first reading in Parliament because it was supported by New Zealand First, which opposes the Māori seats.
New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball said the party believed the issue of the Māori seats should be put to a binding public referendum and the bill was an opportunity to do that.
He said later that the referendum would be on entrenching the seats or abolishing the seats. If the party could not get that amendment passed it would not support the bill.
Tirikatene said it was a small but significant bill.
"It cuts to the heart of the representation and the status of the Māori seats in this House."
He said the general seats could be abolished only by a 75 per cent majority but the Māori seats could be abolished by a simple majority.
"There is an imbalance there and my bill seeks to raise us to an equal standard with the general seats."....
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12119877