Maori should believe in themselves, says Turia

Maori need to throw off their "mad, bad and sad" stereotype and start making decisions for themselves, says Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia.

Speaking at Whangarei's Te Renga Paraoa Marae, Mrs Turia urged Maori to believe in themselves so they did not have to rely on others to make decisions.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing how mad, bad and sad we [Maori] are. We're actually doing all right, thank you," Mrs Turia said, to the cheers of the crowd of 100.

"We have huge potential, huge untapped potential ... we have everything to celebrate."

Mrs Turia, a former Labour Party MP, started the Maori Party in July after discontent with the Government's proposal to vest foreshore and seabed ownership in the Crown.

Mrs Turia, in Northland for two days of public meetings, told the crowd on Wednesday that Maori were the heartbeat of the country and should be given more credit for luring international visitors here.

"They don't come here to see economic development ... they're coming here to experience the culture of the tangata whenua. We're the ones bringing in the huge dollars even though we're not acknowledged for that," Mrs Turia said.

The crowd at the marae cheered and murmured "kia ora" at Mrs Turia's speech and their support was made even clearer when a group of young people sang a song urging people to support the Maori Party.

Likely Te Tai Tokerau Maori Party candidate Hone Harawira was present at the marae and Mrs Turia said he had not blown his chances of becoming a candidate, despite his criticism of the party's leadership last week.

Mr Harawira had described the party's leaders as "square buggers" who were risking the party's future by trying to be as conservative as other political parties.

"I don't think criticism is necessarily a bad thing. All of us are open to criticism. We're not going to go round and say they [potential candidates] don't have any right to raise issues," Mrs Turia said.

And as for Labour MP John Tamihere saying last week that some Maori Party members did not want any Harawira family members involved in the party, Mrs Turia waved it off saying the comment had no validity.

"He [John Tamihere] should be more worried about the Labour Party and what they need to be doing to win the election," Mrs Turia said.

Mrs Turia said candidates for the party would be announced at the end of the year.

Policy ideas, including ensuring Maori made decisions for themselves, would be checked by the party's branches over the next two weeks.

A manifesto is expected to be finished by February.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, also visiting Whangarei, said the Labour Party was not concerned about the Maori Party and any challenge to Te Tai Tokerau Labour MP Dover Samuels. Labour was not losing sleep over an "upstart party".

- NZPA