Political Argument about Representation: The Case of the Maori Seats

Abstract

There has been little attention paid to the notions about group and minority representation held by political elites. This study examines the arguments put forward by New Zealand parliamentarians about representation. It concentrates upon partisan attitudes towards Maori representation in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in cabinets and discusses the effects of the four seats that are reserved for Maoris. It is argued that theorists of representation have not sufficiently considered the claims of minorities to legislative representation.