Hawke's Bay Maori turn away from Labour party

12.00pm

Hawke's Bay Maori have turned their back on the Labour Party in a shock move that will see them become key supporters for the new Maori Party.

With 56,000 members, Ngati Kahungunu is the third-largest tribe in New Zealand and Labour had been counting on its backing to stem the flow of support towards former Labour MP Tariana Turia's new party.

Iwi president Ngahiwi Tomoana has been elected vice president of the Maori Party and says its formation has pulled apathetic Hawke's Bay Maori off the fence and fiercely into politics.

"Branches are being set up all over the place. We've been very loyal to Labour and invisible in terms of protest over the last five years but many feel the tribe's good nature has been taken advantage of and we won't let that happen now."

Mr Tomoana said the new Maori Party received the tribe's support with surprise given Labour's Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, is a Hawke's Bay representative.

The minister was "understandably grumpy" about the tribe's shift in support but Mr Tomoana said it was no surprise given Hawke's Bay Maori started the recent hikoi to Parliament and anger towards the Government over the foreshore and seabed legislation "had been boiling away for some time".

Mr Tomoana was confident the Maori Party would easily achieve the 5 per cent threshold -- needed to get MPs into Parliament without winning an electorate -- in the next election and the tribe would be encouraging its members to give both their party and list vote to the Maori Party.

"Parekura is number four on Labour's list so in our mind he is already in and we support him. What we want is to get two Maori members in government."

With Takapau-born Pita Sharples as co-leader of the Maori Party and long-time local president of the Labour party, Gordon Paku, transferring to the same role for the Maori Party, Hawke's Bay has a key role in the party's future.

Mr Tomoana will be pushing economic development and health as key issues and believes the Maori Party can take all seven electorates at the election.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY