Michael Bassett: Who is Maori?

As cabinet ministers traipse around the country, feverishly talking up Budget largesse in the hope it will help their re-election, they inadvertently let slip what Labour’s key priorities are. A recent senior citizens’ meeting was told that grants to Maori are top priority. Pasifika come in a distant second, with disadvantaged youth somewhat further behind. Ordinary Europeans, Indians, Chinese and others, who together make up a big majority of our population, don’t get much of a look in.

Geoffrey Churchman: The definition of ‘Maori’ in NZ legislation needs looking at

With all the new major institutions that the Jacinda government has been creating for people with some Maori descent (even if it’s minimal) with special privileges and veto power over everyone else, one glaringly obvious question that needs to be addressed properly is the definition of who a Maori is.

Nearly 750 Acts of Parliament contain provisions relating to Maori issues, and the sole Interpretation for the term is:

Maori means a person of the Maori race of New Zealand; and includes a descendant of any such person