This one could turn into a bit of a hot potato. :o

Maori Party call for migrant cutback
By DAN EATON - The Dominion Post | Monday, 26 February 2007

The Maori Party is calling for limits on immigration from Western countries, accusing the Government of trying to stop the "browning of New Zealand".

Party founder and co-leader Tariana Turia said it was most concerned about traditional source countries such as Australia, Canada and Britain.

The Maori Party has mooted the plan after Statistics New Zealand dashed hopes for an eighth Maori seat in Parliament at the next election because too few people, relative to overall population growth, opted to sign on to the Maori electoral roll.

"What we are talking about is the number of people coming into this country and what that means for Maori political representation," Mrs Turia said.

The move is reminiscent of NZ First leader Winston Peters' calls before the 1996 election for immigration to be "cut to the bone", which gained wide international attention.

More here .