Annette King should not be surprised by the proportionately low vote for Maori on the District Health Boards says ACT Deputy Leader Ken Shirley.

"Her government's policies of affirmative action with legislation requiring the government appointment of two Maori on each Board were doomed to fail and will never serve the interests of Maori.

"Wherever affirmative action policies have been passed into legislation they have proven to be counter productive and most jurisdictions have long since abandoned these failed policies.

"It is clear that fewer than expected Maori candidates put their name forward for election because of the race based appointment system.

"It is also obvious that voters were not inclined to vote for Maori candidates because they knew that two Maori were guaranteed of representation by way of ministerial appointment.

"ACT New Zealand opposed race-based affirmative action when the legislation setting up the DHBs was passed in the knowledge that such policies would not deliver the intended outcome.

"A parallel failed outcome can be expected with the dual electoral roles that are now being legislated for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council," Ken Shirley said.

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