Maori Party, Labour meet to sound each other out

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, the new MP for Tamaki Makaurau, is willing to talk to National and Labour. Picture / Dean Purcell

The Maori Party will sit down with Labour this afternoon in the first of a series of discussions aimed at piecing together a workable Government.

A Maori Party spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that Prime Minister Helen Clark's chief of staff, Heather Simpson, called on election night to congratulate co-leader Tariana Turia and to open the way to discussions between the parties.

The party's four seats could be crucial in forming the next Government, with both Labour and National required to look beyond their natural coalition partners.

How that support plays out is expected to be determined in the coming fortnight with the Maori Party set to meet members throughout the country to decide which of the main parties it could work with, what form support would take, and what policies are not negotiable.

Mrs Turia said on Saturday the party had three bottom lines - the retention of the Maori seats, a review of the foreshore and seabed legislation and a review of all Maori targeted funding.

The party, jubilant after winning four of the seven Maori seats, has given itself two weeks to meet party faithful at 21 consultation hui.

Yesterday's celebrations at West Auckland's Hoani Waititi Marae were dominated by the prospect of coalition talks.

Party president Whatarangi Winiata said references to and the prominence of the Treaty of Waitangi in Parliament and policy was also non-negotiable as was a need to target funding to assist the poor.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira, who wrestled the seat from Labour's Dover Samuels, has further clouded potential coalition talks by reviving calls for the formation of a separate Maori Parliament.

In a victory speech on Saturday Mr Harawira said the first thing he would do when he got to Parliament was push for the creation of a separate Maori Parliament, set up in Te Tai Tokerau to work alongside and be equal to the existing Parliament.

Professor Winiata said he was not aware of the speech and Mrs Turia played it down, saying the concept had not been discussed by the party.

National leader Don Brash's overtures to the party could also test its unity. The Herald understands some of the party's hierarchy want no part in negotiations with National.

Party co-leader Pita Sharples said the party was willing to talk to either National or Labour and had arranged talks with Labour this afternoon. Unless National moved on its one-law-for-all policy there was no chance of coalition.

"While National is saying no to the Maori seats, then absolutely not, there's no way. I have heard he [Dr Brash] is considering his stance on the Maori seats. Now all he has to do is reconsider the matter about the treaty and targeting Maori initiatives and, who knows, we could be interested in talking to him," Dr Sharples said.

He acknowledged the bulk of Maori people's party votes had gone to Labour.

"It [a deal with National] is unlikely because Maori clearly want a Labour government. They gave their party vote to Labour. But the thing is they [Labour] are not to expect us to give up what we stood for to get in there. If they do expect that, then we will just stand back."

A party member who would not be named said it was a nonsense to enter discussions with National when Maori had sent a clear signal in the polls that they wanted no part in a National government.

Dr Sharples described as "smart talk" Prime Minister Helen Clark's campaign comment that his party would be the last cab off the rank in coalition talks.

"It's interesting that they've rung us. The cab has been sold and we now drive a limousine ... and we'll be talking."

- additional reporting: Ainsley Thomson, NZPA