Story: Ngā māngai – Māori representation

The issue of the Māori seats has divided New Zealand politicians since soon after they were created in 1867. This 2006 cartoon shows Māori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples sitting on one of the seats while National Party leader Don Brash (second from right) and ACT leader Rodney Hide ponder how to shift them. Turia is shown enrolling new voters onto the Māori roll (enabling them to vote for the Māori MPs), while the general roll smoulders on a fire.