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.
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