Would Maori Party respect a referendum result?
UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne is challenging Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples to explain whether he would accept the outcome of a public referendum on Maori seats, regardless of the outcome.
This follows comments from Mr Sharples this morning that “no government has the right to take (Maori seats) away,” with Mr Sharples promising to lead “social disruption and protest” if they are abolished.
“I personally believe that the ballot box should be colour-blind. But if the majority of the country feels otherwise, then of course I would accept this,” says Mr Dunne.
“I understand that the Maori party feel that race-based seats should remain – but they need to say whether they would accept a majority decision of the New Zealand public to decide their own electoral system.
“If they would respect the will of the people then we should hold a referendum and put this issue to bed once and for all.”
Mr Dunne says that New Zealanders should be the ones to decide on constitutional matters like our electoral system, and that politicians are poorly placed and inevitably suffer a conflict of interest. ... Read the full text of this article.
