Te Ururoa Flavell in his column (22 October) states that there is a need for designated Maori seats on local bodies and claims that this is a Treaty right.
For a MP he should know better, it is not a Treaty right. It would be a breach of Article 3 of the Treaty of Waitangi, that extends to Maori the protection, and all the rights and privileges of British Subjects, therefore equality with everyone else. Neither more nor less, the same.
As the recent elections have shown, credible Maori candidates are perfectly capable of being elected on their own merits, and do not need to be patronised with reserved seats.
Richard Prince, Welcome Bay.