Act and Maori Party relationship blossoming

Act's annual conference took an unusual turn yesterday when the "mystery guest speaker" was Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia.

The two unlikely bedfellows of Act and the Maori Party appear to be sharing a blossoming relationship with the Maori Party casting proxy votes for Act in Parliament and the two parties meeting to discuss policy.

Act leader Rodney Hide said he was honoured that Mrs Turia had agreed to speak at the Wellington conference and said he was enjoying learning from the party.

Mrs Turia told the Herald she was surprised to be invited to speak and said while she did not think the two parties had much policy in common, there were areas where they could reach agreement.

"We have taken the view that we should build relationships with all the political parties and take opportunities to speak to other groups so that can build some understanding."

Mrs Turia said one of the four Maori Party MPs had been opposed to her giving the speech, but she declined to name the person.

The parties' greatest area of common ground is their shared opposition to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

However, an area of contention between the parties is Act's belief that Maori seats in Parliament - of which the Maori Party hold four of seven - should be abolished.

It is not the first time Mr Hide has made public references to Act's close relationship with the Maori Party - last month, in his first speech of the year, he praised it, saying its four MPs were smart and hard working.

Yesterday, Mr Hide also addressed the ongoing rumours of discontent within Act over his tactics of pursuing political scandals.

At the conference on Saturday night, Act co-founder Sir Roger Douglas gave a speech criticising the party's direction and saying the leadership was failing to deliver and was not communicating a vision people could relate to.

Mr Hide said he agreed that Act needed to offer an alternative vision, alternative policies and should work for an alternative Government. "But I'm paid as an MP to do an MP's job, which is to represent constituents and hold the Government to account, and I'll continue to do that.

"It's always tough for a small party because you have these two jobs to do."