   in new zealand politics, mÄori electorates, colloquially also called mÄori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of mÄori in the parliament of new zealand. consequently, every area in new zealand is covered by both a general and a mÄori electorate. mÄori electorates were introduced in 1867 under the maori representation act. the first mÄori elections were held in the following year during the term of the 4th new zealand parliament. they were intended as a temporary measure and, despite numerous attempts to disestablish mÄori electorates, they continue to form part of the new zealand political landscape. ==organisation== mÄori electorates operate much as do general electorates, but have as electors people who are mÄori or of mÄori descent, and who choose to place their names on a separate electoral roll rather than on the "general roll". mÄori electoral boundaries are superimposed over the electoral boundaries used for general electorates; thus every part of new zealand simultaneously belongs both in a general seat and in a mÄori seat. shortly after each census all registered mÄori electors have the opportunity to choose whether they are included on the mÄori or general electorate rolls. each five-yearly mÄori electoral option determines the number of mÄori electorates for the next one or two elections. ==establishment== the establishment of mÄori electorates came about in 1867 during the term of the 4th parliament with the mÄori representation act, drafted by napier mp donald mclean. parliament passed the act only after lengthy debate. many conservative mps, most of whom considered mÄori "unfit" to participate in government, opposed mÄori representation in parliament, while some mps from the other end of the spectrum (such as james fitzgerald, who had proposed allocating a third of parliament to mÄori) regarded the concessions given to mÄori as 
MAori_electorates MAori_politics Parliament_of_New_Zealand Race_relations_in_New_Zealand