Speech – The Maori Party

In our first 3 years in this House, the Maori Party focussed on laying down solid policy foundations based on our commitment to Kaupapa Maori, before entering into a relationship with government that included the appointment of two Ministerial posts, …Notice Of Motion #4: Establishment Of Electoral Reform Committee
Hone Harawira, Maori Party member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau
Thursday 25 March 2010

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE to move, That this House establish a committee to consider and report to it on such legislation concerning the referendum on the electoral system and reform to the electoral finance regime that may be referred to it; the committee to consist of 12 members to be nominated by parties to the Speaker as follows: New Zealand National 4, New Zealand Labour 3, Green Party 1, ACT New Zealand 1, Maori Party 1, United Future 1, and Progressive 1, and that the committee have the authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting, except during oral questions; during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House; on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House; and outside the Wellington region during a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 187,189, and 190(1)(b) and (c).
In our first 3 years in this House, the Maori Party focussed on laying down solid policy foundations based on our commitment to Kaupapa Maori, before entering into a relationship with government that included the appointment of two Ministerial posts, so we are able to bring a unique perspective as the independent Maori voice in Parliament to any debate, including ways to improve the electoral administration system, and it is on that basis that we will support this notice of motion to establish a committee to consider legislation concerning the referendum on the electoral system.

And we would expect Maori representation to be a big issue to the Committee as it is to the Maori Party itself, particularly given that Maori are represented as voters on the General Roll, the Maori Roll, and as non-voters as well.

Maori people don’t all buy into the electoral system – hence the phrase ‘don’t vote; it only encourages them’, and for those that do, there are obstacles which often make them wonder why, and we’re keen to see that change if government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process.
Like for example, the fact that during the 2008 campaign, nearly 100,000 Maori aged 18-35 were Not On The Roll, suggesting a major education campaign at Wharekura level is critical if government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process.

We also found during the 2008 campaign that another 47,000 Maori had been Removed From The Roll because their enrolment packs came back as undelivered, nearly twice the non-Maori figure, again, another critical area if government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process.

Clearly there is a need for more research to understand why Maori voter turnout and electoral registration are so much lower than non-Maori, as there is also a need for more robust strategies specifically targeting Maori, aimed at getting them on the roll, and keeping them there, if government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process.

Indeed, denying Maori the opportunity to vote simply because they moved is probably a breach of human rights, so we’re keen to investigate other options like the use of IRD numbers, driver’s licence, Community Service cards, Gold cards, and data matching to ensure that those electoral rights are guaranteed to Maori, hakoa kei hea ratou e noho ana.

Then of course, once we get them on the roll, and get them to agree to stay there, we still face the massive problem of Low Maori Voter Turnout, 62% in the Maori seats compared to 80% in the General seats.
And if I might add to no-ones great surprise, when we look into the factors that cause low turnout, youth and poverty figure highly, so again, we will be looking to the policies and programmes that will change those factors, if government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process.

We also note the conclusions of the Maori Electoral Engagement Research 2006 Project which said that the very state of being Maori was a key to the design, development and implementation of any programmes aimed at getting a positive result from Maori. They also noted that there needed to be better training packages before people engaged with Maori communities, and that voters wanted more relevant and timely information, available at community level.

So clearly a more positive Electoral Education Campaign is needed to encourage Maori to participate in elections; including
• programmes specifically targeting Maori aged 15-25;
• greater education about MMP and the electoral process;
• a review of the research about why Maori don’t vote;
• campaigns with a strong message about the importance of enrolment and voting.

And as clearly, the Maori Party supports any opportunity for a fresh look at way in which elections themselves are conducted in this country, including the long queues for the Maori seats, the lack of voter information, the lack of translators, the lack of warmth from electoral officials, and often the complete absence of voter packages for the Maori seats at polling stations.
Given how hard it is to get Maori to even get on the roll, nothing is surer than the fact that making them then feel worthless about their status when they come in to vote, will guarantee that they will never come back, so again, if government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process, there will need to be greater attention paid to encouraging Maori voters to want to participate.

Mr Speaker – the Maori Party has already given some thought to this vexing issue and we’re happy to put forward these ideas about Maori Electoral Participation, for consideration of the house:
1. That all Maori be automatically entered onto the Maori roll at 18 years of age (with an option to transfer to the General Roll);
2. That the Maori Electoral Option be changed to allow Maori to change rolls during an election cycle;
3. That electoral data include iwi and hapu to help in the development of tribal planning
4. That Maori voters be allowed to choose to vote according to their iwi base rather than their residence
5. That the Electoral Act be changed so that Te Tai Tonga no longer has to include Wellington as well as the whole of the South Island, and that Te Tai Tonga can properly represent Te Wai Pounamu as it always should have been allowed to do.

The Maori Party will be represented by Rahui Katene on the Electoral Referendum Committee because we see this review as critical to ensuring the right of Maori to actively participate in a system which wii have a huge impact on the future of our nation.

ENDS

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