Maori ministers agree not to go to Fiji – but party may still go

John Key says he won't give Pita Sharples permission to lead a delegation to Fiji. Photos / NZH

A political bust-up between the National Government and a support partner has been avoided after the Maori Party co-leaders backed down from plans to visit Fiji.

Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples, who both hold ministerial warrants, have accepted Prime Minister John Key's directive not to go to Fiji, though they said a delegation from their party will.

Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, took power in a 2006 coup and the country was last week suspended from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum for not making progress on holding democratic elections.

Dr Sharples told reporters this afternoon the party was invited by the Fiji government and others to visit, and he was still considering participating in the delegation, despite yesterday telling Mr Key yesterday he would not go.

"Our talks don't end in one talk, we negotiate."

Mr Key reacted saying under the Cabinet manual Dr Sharples needed his permission to be part of the delegation and he would not be getting it.

"I have made it clear it would be unacceptable for any minister to travel to Fiji," he told reporters this evening.

"It's important that we speak with one voice and that we don't confuse that position over there."

Mr Key said after the episode over MP Richard Worth's visit to India he had made it clear "it would be very unusual circumstances under which I would sign (off) a private visit by a Cabinet minister."

Asked about Dr Sharples sending mixed messages, Mr Key said he was sure an amicable outcome would be found. He said the Maori Party co-leaders were genuinely interested in playing a positive role over Fiji, but he felt the way forward was through the forum.

"It's really important that there's solidarity with all those leaders and if we were to cut loose on that then that would leave our partners in the Pacific exposed."

Mrs Turia told NZPA that she and Dr Sharples accepted that decision.

"Those are the rules for ministers ... that doesn't mean the Maori Party can't go over and it doesn't mean our members can't go over."

MP Hone Harawira was likely to be part of the delegation.

"Of course we would have much preferred that we didn't have to be given a directive ... I think that possibly the difficulty that we had was that we were not thinking of going as ministers, we were not going to represent the Government."

Mrs Turia said when the idea was first raised on Sunday, Mr Key did not have any difficulty with it, saying he would not stop anyone from travelling.

Mr Key accepted that he may have caused confusion.

"But I think I made it reasonably clear yesterday and certainly I made it crystal clear today."

Mr Key said it was a concern that Cdre Bainimarama would use the visit as a propaganda tool.

A visit by the American Samoa Senate was used that way, he said.

New Zealand was willing to help Fiji if progress was made towards elections.

Mr Key did not think the relationship with the Maori co-leaders was negatively affected by the issue.

"We have a very good and fruitful working relationship, it's expansive, it crosses a lot of issues," he said.

"Over the next 2-1/2 years there's going to be plenty of things we debate and some things we don't agree on - that's a function of being different political parties."

- NZPA