Labour seeks tactics to beat Maori Party

The Labour Party's Maori Council is trying to come to terms with an increasingly politically aggressive Maori Party.

The Herald understands that the issue dominated a weekend council meeting, held at Hopuhopu near Ngaruawahia, which attracted around 40 Maori MPs and their electorate staff.

Labour Party president Mike Williams said the recent publicity attracted by the Maori Party was because of the party's "new kid on the block" status.

"Our Maori caucus is a bit old hat if you like, and we certainly talked about making more of an impression on the Maori electorate and getting organised and what resources does the party have to help with that."

Mr Williams said it was important that Maori voters were reminded of the true choices they had when it came to the Government.

"The options are simple, Labour or National, and any vote for the Maori Party was a vote for National."

Mr Williams said he had a coalition document signed by National leader Dr Brash, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia and Act leader Rodney Hide, after last year's election, which would be circulated to Maori at the election to remind them why they must vote for Labour.

"We told Maori voters before the election that a vote for the Maori Party was vote for National."

However a source at the meeting who did not want to be named said there was also criticism of Maori MPs' slow response to Maori issues and to initiatives taken by the Maori Party.

A senior party member who did not to be named said concern was growing at Maori MPs' failure to communicate with the Maori electorate.

"Labour's Maori caucus needs to be more proactive and to move much more freely."

Mr Williams said some strong Labour candidates were waiting in the wings, coupled with new blood like Labour Maori caucus chairman Shane Jones, which would combat impressions of sluggishness.

Mr Jones, a list MP, said it was important that the party communicated the gains it had achieved for Maori.