Maori, a critical mass in the New Zealand Parliament

Abstract

Between 1982 and 2002 the number of Maori in the ew Zealand Parliament dramatically increased to a level of approximately 15 percenl of the total Parliamentary population. This thesis uses theory developed from studying women in Parliament to evaluate the state of Maori representation in New Zealand. The theory of critical mass argues that once a group reaches approximately 15 percent of the population their impact on Parliament will dramatically increase. The hypothesis of this thesis is that Maori have reached a critical mass and that as a resuJt their impact on Parliament will have greatly increased. In order to test the hypothesis over 2500 pages of the New Zealand Parliamemary Debates were studied to examine the changing types of issues raised. and the changing culture of the New Zealand Parliament. The data showed that the number of Maori MPs in Parliament has reached a critical mass leading to an increase in the amount of Maori issues and incidences of Maori culture raised in Parliament. This thesis concludes by using the aims, recommendations and principles set out in three documents to examine the state of Maori representation in Parliament. These documents are the 1986 Royal Commission on the electoral system, The Parliamentary Review of M:MP and the Treaty of Waitangi. "