Harawira Hone: Business of Select Committees — Appointments 
Harawira Hone: Business of Select Committees — Appointments 
[Volume:661;Page:9856] 
HONE HARAWIRA (Maori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Tena katou katoa e te Whare. In the Maori Party’s first 3 years in the House we focused on laying down solid policy foundations based on our commitment to kaupapa Maori before entering into a relationship with the Government that included appointment to two ministerial posts. So we are able to bring a unique perspective as the independent Maori voice in Parliament to any debate including a debate on ways to improve the electoral administration system. It is on that basis that we will support this motion to establish a committee to consider legislation concerning the referendum on the electoral system. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: Tell us about Paris. 
HONE HARAWIRA 
: We expect Maori representation—kia ora George—to be a big issue for the committee as it is for the Maori Party itself particularly given that Maori present as voters on the general roll on the Maori roll and as non-voters as well. Maori people do not all buy into the electoral system hence the phrase “Don’t vote! It only encourages them.” 
For those who do buy into the electoral system there are obstacles that often make them wonder why they do so we are keen to see that change if the Government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process. For example during the 2008 campaign nearly 100000 Maori aged 18 to 35 were not even on the roll which suggests that a major education campaign at wharekura level is critical if the Government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process. We also found during that same campaign that another 47000 Maori had been removed from the roll because their enrolment packs had come back as being undelivered. That was nearly twice the non-Maori figure. Again that is another critical area to be addressed if the Government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process. Clearly there is a need for more research in order to understand why the rates of Maori voter turnout and electoral registration are so much lower than those of non-Maori and there is also a need for more robust strategies specifically targeting Maori and aimed at getting them on the roll and keeping them there if the Government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process. 
Indeed denying Maori the opportunity to vote simply because they have moved is probably a human rights issue so we are keen to investigate other options like the use of Inland Revenue Department numbers drivers’ licences community services cards SuperGold cards and data matching to ensure that those electoral rights are guaranteed to Maori hakoa kei hea ratou e noho ana. Of course once we get them on the roll and get them to agree to stay there we will still face the massive problem of low Maori-voter turnout. It is 62 percent in the Maori seats compared with 80 percent in the general seats. If I may add when we look into the factors that cause low turnout we see to no one’s great surprise that youth and poverty figure highly. So again we will be looking to policies and programmes that will change those factors if the Government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process. 
We also note the conclusions of the 2006 Maori electoral engagement research project which said that the very state of being Maori was a key to the desire development and implementation of any programmes aimed at getting a positive result for Maori. They also noted that there needed to be better training packages before people engaged with Maori communities and that voters wanted more relevant and timely information available at the community level. Clearly a more positive electoral education campaign is needed to encourage Maori to participate in elections including programmes specifically targeting Maori aged 15 to 25 greater education about MMP and electoral process a review of the research about why Maori do not vote and campaigns with a strong message about the importance of enrolment and voting. 
The Maori Party supports any opportunity for a fresh look at the way in which elections are conducted in this country including the long queues for those voting for Maori seats at polling stations the lack of voter information the lack of translators the lack of warmth from electoral officials and the often complete absence of voter packages for those voting for the Maori seats at polling stations. Given how hard it is to get Maori even on the roll nothing is surer than the fact that making them feel worthless about their status when they come to vote is a guarantee that they will never come back again. So again if the Government is serious about involving Maori in the mainstream political process there will need to be greater attention paid to encouraging Maori voters to want to participate. 
The Maori Party has already given some thought to this vexing issue. We are happy to put forward these ideas about Maori electoral participation for the consideration of the House: that all Maori be automatically entered onto the Maori roll at 18 years of age with an option to transfer to the general roll; that the Maori electoral option be changed to allow Maori to change rolls during an election cycle; that electoral data include iwi and hapu to help in the development of tribal planning; that Maori voters be allowed to choose to vote according to their iwi base rather than their residence; and that the Electoral Act be changed so that Te Tai Tonga no longer has to include Wellington as well as the whole of the South Island so that Te Tai Tonga can properly represent Te Wai Pounamu as it always should have been allowed to do. 
The Maori Party will be represented by Rahui Katene on the Electoral Legislation Committee because we see this review as critical to ensuring the right of Maori to actively participate in a system that will have a huge impact on the future of our nation. Kia ora tatou. 
Motion agreed to.