Clark struggles to contain Maori anger

By AUDREY YOUNG, ANGELA GREGORY AND RUTH BERRY

Prime Minister Helen Clark is trying to quell Maori discontent in Labour ranks, especially Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere, who spoke at the weekend about the possibility of a new Maori party.

Last night Mr Tamihere told the Herald he "expected" to be with the Labour Party in the election next year.

"I have no intention of calling a byelection," he said. "I have no intention of leaving the Labour Party at all."

But he is thought to be reserving judgment until the Government's legislation on the foreshore and seabed policy is finalised. Major changes to the position announced in December could see more Maori MPs threaten their support for the legislation and possibly Labour.

Helen Clark refused to discuss Mr Tamihere last night, but in an appearance on the Marae television programme yesterday praised him for doing "a wonderful job for the Government" on foreshore and seabed and said a separate Maori party would be "ghetto-ising" Maori.

"I would be very sad to see that happen," she said. "Labour has been the party which has been most reflective of all New Zealand society and that means we have always been a bridge between the Maori world and the Pakeha world and that's the way we should aim to stay."

Speculation that Mr Tamihere might be considering another party was fuelled by his attendance at a weekend hui in West Auckland, where he discussed the idea of creating a byelection to be contested by a Maori party.

Helen Clark's relationship with Mr Tamihere is thought to be increasingly strained. It was exacerbated over her decision to overlook Damien O'Connor for promotion to Cabinet when Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel was sacked two weeks ago.

Labour's so-called right faction has been reactivated since the reshuffle. Last week, senior ministers, including Helen Clark and Michael Cullen, were overtly engaged with faction members and Maori MPs during question time.

Caucus sources suggested last night that elements of Labour's backbench were feeling more disgruntled than usual about being forgotten by Cabinet ministers.

The Government's dismissive response yesterday to the Waitangi Tribunal's report on the foreshore and seabed is not likely to improve the climate in the caucus.

Maori agitation over the foreshore and seabed proposals and the Government's review of Maori-targeted funding in the face of National leader Don Brash's attack on them is behind the revival of serious talk about a new party.

The commitment of educationist Pita Sharples at the weekend to work towards establishing a Maori party also lifted its credibility - Dr Sharples would be most likely to stand against Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia.

Mr Tamihere, whose Tamaki Makaurau electorate covers West Auckland, said last night that the hui expressed "a number of frustrations and difficulties with present Government policies" then asked to hear options open to them.

"As their Maori MP, I put them on the table in terms of what was possible." That included "a byelection and the rest of it".

But, he added, "I don't intend pulling those triggers at all."

Former Alliance MP and National Urban Maori Authority chairman Willie Jackson said he would not be fronting a new party, but a working party had been established to continue work on the party formation.

There was some "optimism" that Te Tai Hauauru MP Tariana Turia might resign. The consensus was that only she or Mr Tamihere could win a byelection if they stood for another party against Labour.

Dr Sharples told the hui he was disappointed with all the Labour Party MPs who had failed to represent Maori concern over the foreshore and seabed debate.

He said the MPs had an automatic mandate to serve their people and should vote against Labour on the foreshore and seabed legislation.

Meanwhile, Helen Clark is likely to face more flak from Maori MPs over her public musings in the Weekend Herald over a possible review of constitutional arrangements, including the Treaty of Waitangi.

She acknowledged on Marae that the justice and electoral committee had last year agreed to support an inquiry - but had not progressed it.

"So what I am debating ... is what is the best now of having that debate because there is a feeling in the Pakeha community that some of the treaty issues and the way they are translated into everyday life and practice has run ahead of what they understood."