Recently it’s been announced that a political party will campaign for a referendum on whether New Zealand should continue to guarantee Māori seats in Parliament.
Some other members of Parliament have suggested removing Māori seats without holding a referendum at all.
A referendum is a nationwide vote where the public decides on a specific question. Instead of Parliament making the decision, the country votes directly. In this case, voters would be asked whether Māori electorates should continue to exist.
If a referendum happens, guaranteed Māori representation in Parliament could be at risk.
Why This Matters
Politics affects health.
The people who sit in Parliament make decisions about housing, income, education, health services, alcohol laws, tobacco laws, and more.
Those decisions shape health outcomes.
For over 100 years, Māori electorates have guaranteed Māori representation in Parliament, regardless of which political party is in power.
If those seats are removed, there would no longer be guaranteed Māori representation.
That has real implications for hauora Māori.
How our voting system works – MMP
New Zealand uses Mixed Member Proportional representation, or MMP.
At each general election, you get two votes:
Party vote –
This decides how many seats each party gets in Parliament overall.
For example, if a party gets 20 percent of party votes, they get about 20 percent of the 120 seats.
Electorate vote –
This chooses your local Member of Parliament.
There are 72 electorates in total
- 65 general electorates
- 7 Māori electorates
Whoever wins the most votes in an electorate becomes that area’s MP and is guaranteed a seat in parliament.
Why two votes?
The party vote reflects what the what the country wants overall.
The electorate vote ensures local communities still have a direct representative.
This balance helps keep Parliament fair and representative.
How seats are filled
After an election, Parliament is usually made up of 120 MPs.
Electorate seats are locked in first.
The total number of seats each party receives is based on the party vote.
For example, if a party wins 40 percent of the party vote, that equals 48 seats in total.
If they win 20 electorates, they recieve:
- 20 electorate MPs
- 28 list MPs
The list MPs are used to make sure the final numbers match the party vote result.
Electorate MPs and List MPs – what's the difference?
Electorate MPs
These represent a specific geographic area. Voters in that area choose them directly.
If they leave, a by-election is held and people votes again.
List MPs
This are chosen from a ranked party list.
If a list MP leaves, the next person on that party’s list takes their place. There is no public vote.
What are Māori Electorates?
Electorates are voting based on where you live.
There are 72 electorates in Aotearoa.
- 65 General electorates
- 7 Māori electorates
Māori electorates sit alongside general electorates and together cover all of Aotearoa.
The seven Māori electorates are:
- Hauraki-Waikato
- Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
- Tāmaki Makaurau
- Te Tai Hauāuru
- Te Tai Tokerau
- Te Tai Tonga
- Waiariki
Māori voters can choose to enrol on the Māori roll. Those on the Māori roll vote for a candidate in one of these seven Māori electorates.
This means regardless of party vote, Māori will always have at least 7 representatives in Parliament that have Māori interests on their agenda. These Māori electorate MPs don't all have to be from the same party.
Having a separate electorate system for Māori is a way of guaranteeing Māori representation in Parliament considering their smaller population.
What a referendum would mean
Removing Māori electorates would mean there is no longer guaranteed Māori representation in Parliament.
In practical terms, Māori representation would depend entirely on general electorates and party lists. There would be no dedicated Māori seats elected by Māori voters.
Some argue Māori seats create unequal treatment. Others view them as a structural mechanism designed to guarantee representation within our democracy.
Māori seats do not give additional voting power. Māori voters still cast two votes, like everyone else. The seats exist to ensure representation.
If removed, that guarantee would end.
Our Stance
As a Māori public health organisation, we believe guaranteed Māori representation is essential.
We do not see Māori electorates as special treatment. We see them as a structural safeguard that supports representation and reflects the intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi within our political system.
For us, this is not abstract.
Representation shapes policy.
Policy shapes health outcomes.
Removing guaranteed Māori representation would have real implications for hauora Māori.
We support the continuation of Māori electorates.
