24 May 2009

Super-council seats for Pacific people foreseen

2:12 pm on 24 May 2009

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira suggests Pacific people should also be given special seats on the new Auckland Council - in five years.

A hikoi is to take place in Auckland on Monday to protest against the rejection of a recommendation by a Royal Commission for three Maori seats on the super-city council.

Mr Harawira told the Q & A programme on TVNZ that Maori will not be shut out and as tangata whenua they should have specific representation.

He said he would also like other ethnicities to have representation in future too.

Mr Harawira said he was optimistic that the hikoi would see Maori representation on the super-city council.