This is edition 2025/202 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. INITIATIVE LACKING ON MĀORI SEATS
John McLean
- 🗣️ NZ Initiative's MMP Reform Proposal
NZ Initiative recommends changes to New Zealand’s MMP electoral system, suggesting keeping the Māori seats in Parliament despite mixed views on race-based representation. - ⚖️ Symbolic Importance of Māori Seats
The report highlights Māori seats as a symbol of Treaty partnership and independent Māori voice, but critics argue it perpetuates racial division and stereotypes. - 🏛️ Māori Seats and Historical Context
Māori seats have existed since 1867, and their role has evolved. Critics, like Winston Peters, argue that they are outdated and unnecessary for Māori representation. - 🔄 Māori Party Overhang Issue
The Māori Party holds 6 of the 7 Māori seats, creating an "overhang" in Parliament, which is against the intended purpose of MMP, leading to recommendations for expanding the number of seats. - 📊 NZ Initiative's Proposal for More Seats
NZ Initiative suggests increasing the number of seats in Parliament from 120 to 170, a move that critics find excessive and impractical. - ⚠️ Soft Bigotry Criticism
Some argue that NZ Initiative’s support for Māori seats displays “soft bigotry,” suggesting Māori need special representation due to perceived vulnerabilities, despite over-representation in Parliament. - 🏛️ Winston Peters' Opposition
Winston Peters opposes Māori seats, advocating for a racially neutral Parliament. He proposed a referendum to abolish the seats, which was rejected by PM Jacinda Ardern in 2017. - 🔮 Fear of Backlash
NZ Initiative may hesitate to challenge the Māori seat issue publicly, fearing accusations of racism and the potential for civil unrest. - 📉 Potential for Referendum
A non-binding referendum on Māori seats could help gauge public opinion on their future, including Māori perspectives, without forcing a change. - 🤔 Future of the Māori Party
The Māori Party may survive after the next election, but their ideological shift towards a post-modernist, neo-Marxist stance may lead to a decline in broader support, especially among pragmatic Māori voters.
