Chorus of 'no coalition' from hui

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples began his hui trail in Gisborne last night to a resounding no coalition chorus from party members.

Dr Sharples was one of the four Maori Party MPs involved in a nationwide series of hui seeking a mandate from their members on coalition and supply and confidence matters.

The 20 different hui held over the next few days throughout the country are aimed at providing the Maori Party with a clearer idea of its position in the future government.

Dr Sharples said Labour and the Maori Party were "sizing each other up" after earlier talks but he said the real discussions would begin when the Maori Party met with Labour on Monday.

While he and co-leader Tariana Turia have expressed their desire not to enter a coalition arrangement with the Labour Party, the option has still been taken back to the electorates.

But the large audience of Maori Party members gathered at the Holy Trinity Church hall last night gave a unanimous "no" to the prospect of a coalition with the Labour Party.

"We have more chance of being strong and independent out of coalition than in it," said Dr Sharples.

Despite the positive no-coalition response, the gathering could not come to total agreement on the matter of votes for confidence and supply.

The matter ended inconclusively with a split audience vote but Dr Sharples refuted any suggestion that supply and confidence actually meant supporting Labour.

"It honestly doesn't mean you're in their camp at all. You can vote against every single thing they put up," he said.

"What we would be giving them in confidence and supply is not a great amount but we would expect some returns for that if we gave them it.

"We would go into it provided there were some benefits otherwise we have no choice but to go into opposition," said Dr Sharples.

The Maori Party made a commitment before this year's general election that its members would be fully consulted before any decisions were made on their behalf.

Dr Sharples will be speaking tonight in Hastings before going to Wairarapa and Wainuiomata on Friday. He will be speaking to his Tamaki Makaurau electorate members on Saturday.

Taranaki Maori last night also pushed for the Maori Party to have an independent voice in Parliament rather than go into a coalition with Labour.

About 150 people attended the Maori Party post-election consultation hui tonight at the Quality Hotel Plymouth International.

The doors were kept shut to the media, despite earlier promises to the contrary.

After the meeting, Mrs Turia said those at the hui wanted to maintain some independence.

More hui are being held today in Dunedin, Christchurch, Kaitaia, Kaikohe, West Auckland and Hastings.

The Maori Party plans to hold a press conference on Monday to talk about the outcome of its hui.

- NZPA