Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is supporting the Green Party's call for an inquiry into the low voter turnout at the general election.
The election on 26 November had the lowest voter turnout in more than 100 years: only 68% of those eligible to vote did so.
After every election Parliament's Justice and Electoral Select Committee reviews the election - this time round, the Green Party says the committee should examine why so many people didn't bother to cast a ballot.
Mrs Turia says that over the past three elections the turnout of Maori voters has slumped from 67% to 48%, continuing a trend of lower voter participation by Maori in elections since 1935.
She Turia says MMP has increased the significance of the Maori vote and Maori need to know that every vote is worthwhile.
Green MP Gareth Hughes has written to party leaders asking them for support to expand the review's terms of reference.
"We can't just do the same old thing and have an administrative inquiry where we only hear from officials," he says.
"We need to hear from Kiwis, we need to hear from experts, we need to hear from academics."
