An election series in which a panel of readers answers questions on the big issues. The panel of 120 eligible voters has been selected by research company Nielsen to reflect the age, gender and regional spread of the voting-age population.
The Maori Party's demand for constitutional "entrenchment" of Maori electorates is firmly opposed by a majority of the Herald Voters' Panel.
Entrenchment, meaning the Maori electoral option could not be abolished by a bare majority in Parliament, is likely to be a condition of the Maori Party's support
for whichever party leads the next Government.
The Voters Panel was told New Zealand's electoral law already entrenches provisions such as the three-year term of Parliament, the voting age, and the method of dividing the country into general electorates of broadly equal voting strength.
These cannot be changed without a 75 per cent majority in Parliament or a national referendum. When asked whether the provision of Maori electorates should also be entrenched, 55 out of 101 respondents said no. Just 19 said yes and 27 were not sure.
Among the reasons for the hefty opposition: "If we want to be one people, Government must stop making racist decisions."
"All seats must be equal. Maori would be better served within mainstream parties."
"The Maori seats blatantly distort the balance of power."
"As time goes on the population becomes more mixed and it makes less and less sense to have particular provisions for a segment of the electorate that will eventually be defined mostly by sentiment."
Of the few who supported entrenchment, one said, "I think all major elements of our electoral system should be made harder to change without some sort of consensus."
Another: "If I was a descendant of a nation that had basically had their land stolen from them I would like some sort of assurance that expedience would not allow it to happen again."
A Maori respondent said, "To keep the Maori identity as part of the New Zealand Government is a must. Without this the Maori will further disappear from existence."
The panel was also asked if entrenchment should be accepted as a condition of Maori Party support, enabling National or Labour to form a government. In that event opposition falls from 55 to 45, less than a majority. Support rises from 19 to 22 and a greater number, 34, are not sure.
One reluctant supporter said, "You have to swallow a few dead rats to become Government.
"I would trust that a 75 per cent majority to abolish would be easily achievable when the time is right, ie when the Treaty claims period is over." But uncompromising opponents called it "blackmail".
THE QUESTION
Do you think the Maori electorates should be entrenched in electoral law?
