Ethnic bias was clearly shown by Statistics New Zealand in the text provided for the 2013 Census. This aberration has been fully explained by Michael Littlewood in the June 22/28 edition of the New Zealand Listener. Although a large number described their ethnicity as New Zealanders in the previous census, the department chose not to include that option in the recent census. Why not?
Should they not adapt to the needs of the public whom they should serve?
Question 11 asked, ‘What ethnic group do you belong to ? And gave: New Zealand European, Maori, Samoan etc.
Question 13 asked about what language you could converse in
Question 14 ‘Are you descended from a Maori ( parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc.? ( the number of these might be almost infinite)
Question. 15 ‘Do you know the name of your tribe/s or Iwi?
None of the other 86 per cent of the population's ethnic groups was asked any questions of this kind. Why not? The purpose of this obvious discrimination was not explained. If the purpose was to estimate the number of Maori seats then it is extraneous. The Maori seats were created in 1867 as a temporary measure for five years to see that Maori were able to vote until, with the advent of full national suffrage, they should have been cancelled. This has given Maori an advantage to which, in the terms of the Treaty, they are not entitled. They have only the rights of all other citizens. National Party and Maori Party take note.
There are presently 23 Maori members in Parliament, seven on the Maori roll and 16 on the general roll or 19per cent from 14 per cent of the population. This is surely adequate representation.

Bryan Johnson, Omokoroa.