New Zealand Election 2017

[Tintrlvr]

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why would anyone ever

Especially what seem otherwise like lefty-environmentalists? Although, does "introduction of a capital gains tax" mean capital gains aren't taxed currently in New Zealand, or do they want a lower rate the way the US and some other countries have as opposed to taxing them at the same rate as earned income?

[Tintrlvr]

Regarding Maori seats, iirc, Maori voters can choose to vote either in the Maori or the "normal" seat - is there any data on how many choose either? and what sorts of people choose which?

I assume that people voting in Maori electorates tend to be more traditionalist/more likely to be Maori speakers?

Also, correct me if I am wrong - but I've always thought of the Maori party as being fairly conservative on many issues, coalition government with the Nats and all, but allying with Mana seems to indicate otherwise?

Maori voters to my understand choose whether they want to be on the Maori electoral roll or the standard electoral roll when they register to vote, and seats are distributed based on the number of registered voters on the Maori rolls vs. the standard rolls. When a Maori voter shows up to vote, if they are on the Maori roll, they can only vote in Maori seats, and, if they are on the standard roll, they can only vote in the standard seats. Given the Maori percentage of the population vs. percentage of the electoral rolls, somewhat more than half of all Maori are registered on the Maori rolls.

The Maori Party is to my understanding a lot like other ethnic group-based parties around the world: ideologically malleable so long as they get pork for their ethnic group.

[Tintrlvr]

The New Zealand Electoral Commission gives a brief history of the Maori seats and explains how the system works.

http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/maori-representation

To expand on this, based upon books I have read about New Zealand history.

In the 19th century New Zealand started out with a single voters roll, which any British subject who met a landowning qualification could qualify for. In theory the Maori could qualify but in practice few did because the Maori tradition of communal land ownership was incosistent with European ideas about how land could be owned by individuals.

The Maori became discontented over the amount of land settlers had taken over. The Europeans did not realise how discontented until the King Country War broke out. This was a big enough threat to the colony that Imperial troops had to be sent from as far away as India to reinforce the colonial militia.

As an emergency measure, so that the Maori could express their grievances by participating in politics and not have to resort to war, it was decided to create four Maori seats in the New Zealand legislature. This was originally intended to be a temporary measure, but the Maori liked the system and it was made permanent.

The Maori seats elected Maori members to a small legislature, so they could exercise significant political power. This distinguishes the New Zealand practice from that in South Africa, where all the members of legislatures had to be of European descent both before and after communal representatives were introduced into the House of Assembly.

The preamble to the Maori Representation Bill 1867 states:-

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http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_bill/mrb1867431247/

Seems like this matches my understanding.

One question I do have, though, is how they determine who is eligible to be registered on the Maori rolls. It sounds like anyone who says they are of Maori descent can register on the Maori rolls such that theoretically someone with no Maori descent could claim Maori descent on the Census and then register on the Maori rolls. Does anyone know if there is any oversight/regulation on who can claim to be of Maori descent?

[Tintrlvr]

If Winston goes with Labour, will it spur renewed anti-MMP sentiment and calls for reform on the political right in NZ?

It will from the peple who don't have half a brain on the right, that's for sure.

But surely Winston's supporters would be happy with whichever party he chooses to back?