Turia rules out National deal

The Maori Party made a strategic shift in its post-election options last night, categorically ruling out working with National.

"We will do our utmost to ensure that the National Party does not make it to the Government benches," co-leader Tariana Turia said.

The announcement follows the so-called Orewa II speech yesterday by National leader Don Brash which the Maori Party's Te Tai Tokerau candidate, Hone Harawira, likened to "Hitler's plans for the Jews and Pauline Hanson's plans for Australian Aboriginals".

The move also coincides with the expansion of a campaign by Labour to equate a vote for the Maori Party with a vote for National, which was extended to iwi radio stations this week.

Dr Brash has said it would be almost impossible to envisage circumstances under which National could work with the Maori Party.

Mrs Turia has repeatedly left open the possibility, saying the main difference between National and Labour is that the former would stab Maori in the front rather than the back.

But the fence-sitting position has been the source of great contention within the party.

The Maori Party has steadily lost support in the seven Maori electorates, to the point where it might win only two or three electorate seats rather than six or seven.

Yesterday's speech by Dr Brash in Whangarei, coupled with the damage Labour has been doing, forced Mrs Turia's party into stating a definitive position after a conference call involving the Maori electorate candidates.

Dr Brash promised to remove references to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi from 39 laws, resolve treaty grievances by 2010, wind up the Waitangi Tribunal and Office of Treaty Settlements and review Government agencies that deal exclusively with Maori issues, including Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Maori Development).

He also reiterated National's intention to abolish the Maori seats.

Mrs Turia said: "This is electioneering at its worst because it is geared to turning New Zealanders in on each other and we are not going to participate."

She said it was a tragedy that Dr Brash saw no future for the treaty outside of the settlement process.

Mr Harawira introduced himself to Dr Brash outside the hall and shook his hand, saying he had been a gentleman on last week's TVNZ debate but yesterday was a racist.

- additional reporting: Ainsley Thomson