Helen Clark says Maori should decide on seats future

RADIO NEW ZEALAND: The Prime Minister says the future of the Maori seats is a matter for Maori.

Helen Clark says the Labour Party has a consistent approach to the Maori seats and a significant number of Maori opt for the Maori roll.

"The Labour Party's view is that that should be a choice for Maori."

A new report by University of Canterbury professor of law Philip Joseph contends Maori no longer need the Maori seats to achieve proportional representation in Parliament.

He says Maori now have a 19% representation in Parliament, above the national population of 14%.

Mr Joseph also says the seats are outdated and have kept Maori issues out of mainstream political debate.

Referendum needed - United Future

The United Future Party on Friday called for a referendum on the future of the seats.

The party's leader, Peter Dunne, says New Zealand needs an electoral system that represents all New Zealanders equally.

Mr Dunne says Maori have improved their representation under MMP to such an extent that it supports a recommendation by a Royal Commission in 1985 that MMP should lead to the abolition of the Maori seats.

The seats were created in the 1860s as a temporary measure to ensure Maori without land title could vote.

There are now seven seats, based on the number of voters on the Maori roll.