28 Jan 2021

Ex-MP welcomes National's possible return to Māori seats

6:37 am on 28 January 2021

A former National MP is excited the party could stand a candidate in the Māori electorate seats for the first time since 2002.

National Party leader Judith Collins holds a media conference at Stonewood Homes on 15 October, 2020.

National leader Judith Collins said last year that the party was considering the possibility. Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers

One News reported last night that National's leader Judith Collins will tell the caucus next week the party will reverse its longstanding position not to run in Māori seats.

Collins said last year that the party was exploring it as a possibility.

Former MP Jo Hayes said National has a lot to offer Māori.

Hayes said National has a track record on treaty claims and improving education outcomes for Māori.

"We need Māori voices from right across the political spectrum and that political spectrum wasn't complete until we had National participating in that."

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Former MP Jo Hayes. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

The National Party has declined to comment.

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