Maori Party splits with McCarten over new allegiance

Former Alliance leader Matt McCarten has been forced to quit the Maori Party because of links to a new blue-collar political movement likely to contest this year's election.

The Herald understands Mr McCarten was told by Maori Party leaders during a conference call on Monday to stop further involvement with the new political party or resign as campaign manager.

Mr McCarten confirmed yesterday that he was no longer working for the Maori Party.

He has been a guiding figure in the development of the Maori Party since its launch in March last year.

It is understood Mr McCarten has also been a key mover in the formation of the yet-to-be-launched political party Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mr McCarten said discussions were still being held about the formation of the party but there was a groundswell of support for a party that represented the country's "growing poor".

Despite some frustrations over finances and delays with party policy, the split from the Maori Party was amicable, he said.

But a source said Maori Party leaders had given Mr McCarten an ultimatum to stop the "conflict of interest" in organising a new party or quit.

Mr McCarten was campaign manager for Maori Party leader Tariana Turia's byelection in Te Tai Hauauru last July.

Mrs Turia said his position in the party had always been a temporary arrangement.

"My understanding always was that Matt's arrangement with us was temporary.

"He agreed to help with my [byelection] campaign and he agreed to put together an overall election strategy."

She had had the impression that Mr McCarten might be interested in continuing to be campaign manager heading into the election but no formal arrangement had been made "and he's [now] made it quite clear his priorities are elsewhere".

She dismissed suggestions of any formal links between the groups.

"We're an independent party. We will be contesting, as we've said all along, about 10 electorate seats and all the Maori seats. Nothing's changed."

Asked if she had any concerns about Mr McCarten jumping ship, she said: "I guess in the end he's entitled to act politically in whatever interest he considers he's serving.

"I've got no difficulty with that, that's politics."

There was no bad blood between Mr McCarten and her party, she said.