Turia modifies Labour's slogan

By RUTH BERRY

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia returned to Parliament in her new role yesterday taking a little something from the Labour Party with her - an adapted version of its advertising slogan.

Labour's slogan for its recent Budget was "You're better off with Labour".

In a speech given after she was sworn in yesterday Mrs Turia noted "I've seen some early election advertising telling us "You're better off with this party or another."

"Our advertising will say, 'We're better off with our whanau'."

While relations between the two parties have been cool, Labour president Mike Williams said yesterday he was "delighted" with the slogan use.

"We thank her for highlighting our achievements," which included a reduction in Maori unemployment, more affordable housing and much larger numbers of Maori in tertiary education, he said.

No formal discussions have yet been held between Mrs Turia and Labour, despite Mrs Turia's earlier assertion Helen Clark should initiate talks.

Senior Labour whip Jill Pettis said yesterday she had not yet had the opportunity to speak to Mrs Turia and Labour's caucus had yet to discuss the issue.

Mrs Turia, who will vote on an issue-by-issue basis, said the Green Party had agreed to cast her proxy vote in her absence.

About 150 supporters gathered in Parliament to welcome Mrs Turia, who told them later in her speech "enough is enough".

"Ko tenei te wa o te Ao Maori. It is time to look to ourselves.

"We will introduce a new language to this House. It is called truth. We will introduce new ways of acting in this House. It is called respect."

Former Labour Party member of 40 years Gordon Paku, a previous electorate chairman of Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, described the day as "tumeke" or awesome.

Mr Paku left Labour just before the hikoi because "I couldn't see anything being done for Maori".


Mrs Turia meanwhile denied suggestions by the extreme right wing political party the National Front that the two were linked because they were both race-based parties.

The National Front did not respect people who were different from themselves "whereas what we are saying is that ... this country is actually big enough for all of us".

Her party had made it clear it welcomed non-Maori members, she said.

The parliamentary select committee set up to consider the foreshore bill which sparked the birth of the Maori Party begins hearing submissions today.

About 2500 submissions have been received, with 1500 people wanting to speak.

The committee must report back by early November, ensuring it will sit most days over the next few months.