The 1986 Royal Commission on Electoral Reform is shown here hearing submissions from political parties in Wellington. Its members were (from left) Richard Mulgan, Ken Keith, Justice John Wallace (chair), John Darwin and Whetu Wereta. The commission recommended that if a proportional voting system was adopted, the Māori seats should be abolished. The mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) voting system was adopted from the 1996 election, but most Māori were strongly in favour of retaining the seats – which did survive.
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Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)
Reference: EP/1985/3549
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