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A new study is calling for the abolition of the Maori seats in Parliament, saying they are keeping Maori issues out of the mainstream political agenda.
University of Canterbury Law Professor Philip Joseph has conducted the research, as part of a report by the Business Round Table. He says there is a 19 per cent Maori representation in Parliament, which is disproportionate to the national representation of 14 per cent.
Professor Joseph says he is confident Maori would be well represented in Parliament even without the Maori seats. He says the separate representation has tended to sideline Maori issues.
The professor says he wants to make it clear he conducted an objective study and he has no agenda.
- NEWSTALK ZB
