New Zealand First will campaign on a referendum on the Māori seats this year, with the party saying the time had come for a decision on their future.
By Lillian Hanly of RNZ
Te Pāti Māori said it was "race baiting" and "rage baiting" while Labour said it was a "cheap and cynical" attempt to gain votes.
New Zealand First made the announcement on Thursday, saying it believed it had an "opportunity now" to ensure the policy was implemented after the election.
It's a policy the party also took to the 2017 election.
On Thursday, NZ First leader Winston Peters referenced the Royal Commission into the electoral system in 1986, which stated the MMP system would create a more representative Parliament and the original justification for the Māori seats would no longer exist.
He also said there'd been a dramatic increase in the number of Māori in Parliament.
"We're massively overrepresented. Now please take the advantage that you've got, be pleased about that and move on."
Peters accused of race-baiting as NZ First campaigns for Māori seats referendum - Watch on TVNZ+
Party leader Winston Peters took aim at Te Pāti Māori during the announcement. (Source: 1News)
He called Te Pāti Māori's behaviour over the past two years the "last straw."
"They hold the majority of the Māori seats and do not turn up to parliament, disregard the rules and processes, and show utter disdain for the system that gives them the very seats they hold - they represent no one.
"They have proven the seats they hold are no longer relevant nor serve their original purpose."
Peters said a referendum was necessary because that was how MMP was introduced in the first place.
"I'm saying to people in this country, if you want a dramatic, unified electoral system, vote for it," he said.
Peters rejected it could be a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi "because it wasn't in there in the first place."
He said everything he had done for Māori was on the basis of need not race.
Asked how quickly a referendum would take place after this year's election, Peters indicated he wouldn't want the Māori seats during the 2029 election.
Politicians react
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said it was "race baiting" and "rage baiting" to suit New Zealand First voters.
"The types that Winston Peters represents is a dying cohort of people in Aotearoa.
"I would hope that New Zealand is mature enough to see the value in the Māori seats sitting here in Parliament."
He said the timing of the announcement showed Peters was "threatened" by the fact it would be the Māori electorates that decide the next Prime Minister.
"He likes to sit in that position as the king maker, but unfortunately, every poll is saying that he is no longer in that position.
"This country should be celebrating the maturity of te iwi Māori in this democracy."
On representation in Parliament, Waititi said the Māori seats allowed for a "unique Māori voice in Parliament".
"Quite often we've had Māori in those Māori seats without being tied to party lines.
"What this allows us is a unique opportunity for Māori to have an independent voice in Parliament."
Waititi suggested there should be a referendum on list seats, because it wasn't clear who they represented, "they don't have a mandate from constituents".
"The Māori seats are clear. They have a clear mandate."
Labour's Kieran McAnulty said Peters was quite happy with Māori seats when he stood for one in 1975, and when New Zealand First won them all in the '90s.
"But now he wants to pretend to New Zealanders that they don't like them and want to get rid of them. I don't think Kiwis will buy it."
Labour's position was that Māori should decide whether to keep the seats or not, and "that position will remain firm".
"It's a cheap and cynical attempt to try and get some cheap votes," McAnulty said.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said a referendum on Māori seats wasn't something the National party had discussed.
"What we're really focused on is fixing the basics and building the future at the moment."
He acknowledged the seats had been a feature of the political system for some time.
National deputy leader Nicola Willis said National planned to run candidates in the Māori seats this election, but no one had been selected yet.
In terms of a referendum, she said the policy would need to be taken to caucus for discussion.
ACT's deputy leader Brooke van Velden said ACT wouldn't take it to referendum, it would get rid of the seats through Parliament.
"It's been an ACT party position – and a longstanding position – that we should abolish the Māori seats, because it goes against what the ACT party philosophy is, which is that there should be all people equal before the law and that it's wrong to have separate seats based on people's ethnicity."
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