Petition launched to make NZ First keep its promise on Māori seats
6 SEPTEMBER 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pro-democracy lobby group, Democracy Action, has launched a petition lobbying NZ First to force a referendum on the existence of Māori seats.

“Before the election, Winston Peters promised that if his party entered Government we would have a referendum to abolish the Māori seats,” says Lee Short, spokesperson for Democracy Action. “He needs to keep this promise.”

“NZ First’s current initiative to amend Labour’s bill on entrenching the seats is likely too far-fetched to succeed. Democracy Action has started a petition calling for stronger action: Winston Peters should force the Government to introduce a referendum on Māori seats as a condition of NZ First’s continued support of the coalition.”

The petition can be signed at www.democracyaction.org.nz/petition.

“We have seen the success of petitions and referendums in blocking race-based seats at the local level. It’s time to end this distortion of democracy in Parliament.”

ENDS

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