Story: Parliament

Ethnic diversity of MPs

MMP has improved ethnic diversity in Parliament.  After the final first-past-the-post election in 1993, only eight MPs identified as Maori; in 2023 there were 27. Before MMP there had never been an Asian MP and only one from the Pacific. In 2023, people of Chinese, Indian, Iranian, Korean, Maldivian, Mexican, Samoan, Tongan and Vietnamese descent were elected.

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Sources: Statistics New Zealand and New Zealand Parliament

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How to cite this page:

John E. Martin, 'Parliament - Impact of MMP', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/graph/47382/ethnic-diversity-of-mps (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by John E. Martin, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Feb 2015