The 1996 General Election and the Labour vote in the Māori electorates

This paper briefly explores the background to Maori representation in Parliament before tracing the development of Labour's acquisition of the Maori vote up until 1996. It then considers the reasons for the loss of that loyalty at the 1996 General Election. It is argued that the populist Maori leader and the deputy leader of the New Zealand First Party had enormous appeal for Maori voters. The impact of this populism and of the MMP electoral system on the Maori electorate is examined. The nature of Labour's response to this unprecedented surge in Maori support for a minor party, and the dynamics of the Maori electoral population are further themes of the paper. Some of the strategies and attitudes Labour must adopt if it is to regain that Maori confidence are also explored.