National confirms stance on Maori seats

National confirmed its worst-kept secret yesterday - it won't stand candidates in the Maori seats next election.

National leader Don Brash announced the decision, saying given the party's opposition to the existence of the seats expressed in his Orewa speech, it would have been hypocritical to contest them.

"This is a stand on the principle that all of us are equal under the law and in the eyes of Parliament. It is about building a democracy without race-based features."

The decision to contest fewer seats will cost the party about $140,000 in campaign funding, although it will save money by fielding fewer candidates.

Dr Brash said two MPs in National claimed Maori heritage; Georgina te Heuheu and Clem Simich, who tends not to speak out on Maori issues.

Mrs te Heuheu lost her job as the party's Maori Affairs spokeswoman early this year after she criticised the Orewa speech.

She has previously criticised suggestions the party should dismantle the Maori seats.

She was flying out of the country yesterday and unavailable to comment, but Dr Brash said she had been present during caucus discussions on the matter but "frankly I don't remember Georgina's view."

He said National would have Maori MPs in its caucus after the election and while the list remained in the hands of the board. He was "confident" Mrs te Heuheu would be given a high enough ranking to ensure she returned to Parliament.

When the same question was put to president Judy Kirk she said "we look forward to working with Georgina".

Former Maori vice president and party member Wira Gardiner said he had had no problem with reviewing the seats, which he believed were a "paternalistic overhang of the 19th century".

Prime Minister Helen Clark said the party was not going to get any votes in the electorates anyway so it was cutting and running before the matter was put to the test.

The latest Marae Digipoll found Labour holding onto only two of the Maori electorate seats - Tainui and Tamaki Makaurau - if an election were held today.

While Labour retains the majority of party votes in the seats, the five other seats would go to the Maori Party, the poll found.

Dr Brash meanwhile said National would make a substantial announcement on its tax position in the near future.