Maori Party drops hints but National MP non-committal

By RUTH BERRY and HELEN TUNNAH

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is making overtures towards National MP Georgina te Heuheu, describing her as a role model with huge expertise.

Mrs te Heuheu on Thursday refused to rule out joining the new party.

But the list MP later added this did not mean she was about to join it, had not been asked and that she remained loyal to National.

Mrs Turia said the pair had spoken yesterday and Mrs te Heuheu had not mentioned joining the party.

But it was looking for quality candidates and "I don't think anyone would turn down someone of her calibre".

The Maori Party has said its members in the seven Maori electorates would decide which candidates would contest next year's election.

But the nod from party leaders could help aspirants and Mrs Turia was making her position clear.

"I can't say whether she'd be a candidate or not because it would be up to the electorate.

"But there's no doubt that here is a woman that has been a leader, she was the first Maori woman admitted as a barrister and solicitor, she's been a role model. She's been on major boards, she's got huge expertise."

Mrs te Heuheu had also been an excellent chairwoman of the Maori Affairs select committee and Mrs Turia said she had "valued her guidance since I've been in Parliament".

Meanwhile, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party said Dun Mihaka would be its candidate to contest the Tai Hauauru byelection. Mr Mihaka made a name for himself in 1983 when he bared his buttocks at the Prince and Princess of Wales.