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Democracy is not working for Maori according to Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.
Sharples says Maori will not be fairly represented in the Auckland super city and that has caused a war of words at parliament.
New Zealand has separate Maori seats in parliament which is something Sharples wants for the super city and he now says democracy is failing Maori.
"There is a democratic process but it's not working for Maori, they are outside of that system," Sharples says.
He says the principal of one person one vote will not give Maori representation.
"Unless we find some ways for them to be more involved, that is user friendly to their culture, then we have to do something else and I believe seats for Maori is the answer," Sharples says.
But Rodney Hide says Sharples is actually discouraging Maori from putting their names forward to be represented.
"Here we have a Maori leader, who is saying 'look don't bother, you can't get elected unless there are special seats for you', well that's nonsense, I've got far more faith in New Zealanders voting for the best person to do the job," says Hide.
And Labour MP Shane Jones agrees it's ridiculous.
"They were naive comments and there utterance is issued I think in desperation as they struggle to make any traction with the National Party," says Jones.
Unusually, Sharples has admitted it has been difficult and stressful working with National on the super city - something that does not surprise Labour.
"Well hello, what did he think it was going to be like? It was never going to be easy for the Maori Party," says Jones.
Thanks to the partnership deal between the Maori Party and National a review of New Zealand's constitution will be out in the next few months.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentwookie69 said on 2010-03-23 @ 12:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
actually, democracy is not working for anyone who doesn't vote whether they are Maori or not....voting is not just a right but a responsibility and those not willing to take up this responsibility have no right to complain about not being represented or heard.
Keenaz said on 2010-03-22 @ 22:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
Well done Rodney Hide. That quote from him summed it up PERFECTLY.
Beltor said on 2010-03-22 @ 19:09 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Maori party should focus on contributing to NZ by encouraging their own people to be engaged on merit and not skin colour.