New Zealand First Party Calls for Referendum to Abolish Dedicated Māori Seats

‘The time has come for a decision on the future of the Māori seats,’ New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters attends a press conference during a Nordic Council Meeting within the framework of the informal foreign and security policy cooperation (N5), on October 29, 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nordic Council meetings bring together prime ministers, heads of government, ministers, parliamentarians from across the Nordic Countries and guests every year. The 77th Session of the Nordic Council is taking place at Sweden's Riksdag from Oct. 27-30, 2025. Claudio Bresciani/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

New Zealand First (NZ First) has announced that in this year’s election campaign, the nationalist-leaning party will push for a referendum challenging the future of Māori seats.

These seats were first introduced in 1867 and are aimed at guaranteeing Māori representation in the nation’s parliament.