Turia taking time out in political limbo

By RUTH BERRY political reporter

Tariana Turia spent her last day sitting in Parliament as a Labour MP yesterday and now faces a period of uncertainty as she waits to see whether a byelection will have to be held.

Mrs Turia announced her resignation two weeks ago, but technically remains a Labour MP until Monday when it becomes official.

The third-term MP's decision was prompted by her deep unhappiness over the Government's foreshore and seabed legislation.

Mrs Turia will return to Parliament under the banner of a new Maori party being formed.

She is certain to win the byelection, making her the first MP representing an independent Maori party to hold a seat in Parliament.

But Mrs Turia may face a wait of up to two months before she returns.

Once her resignation takes effect, the Speaker, Jonathan Hunt, will gazette the Te Tai Hauauru vacancy.

The Governor-General then has up to 21 days to issue a writ to the Chief Electoral Officer.

He will then declare nomination day, creating the six-day period in which anybody wanting to contest the seat must register their interest.

Unless the writ is issued early, Mrs Turia may not know whether she faces any competition until 28 days after her seat is declared vacant.

All political parties in Parliament have said they won't contest the seat, but any voter nominated by two other voters could put up their hand.

This would trigger a $450,000 byelection which would take close to a month to run.

If there are no other nominations, the Chief Electoral Officer will simply declare Mrs Turia the victor and she will be back in Parliament much sooner.

Mrs Turia, who has been moving out of her ministerial house this week, said yesterday: "I won't be anything next week. My pay stops, everything stops. I'll be Miss Nobody next week."

She had "mixed feelings" about her last day as a Labour MP. "I am excited about moving on and the opportunity it presents for us as a people. But I'm also reflecting on the last seven or eight years."

But she had "no regrets" about her decision.

Her husband, George, wants her to take advantage of the hiatus to take a short holiday, but she is reluctant.

"I'm working quite hard to get the party established. And I've still got a lot of invitations that I'll keep."

A series of meeting would be held over the next few weeks, focusing on policy and candidate selection.

A name for the party had not yet been chosen, but there had been no trouble signing up the 500 members needed to register it, Mrs Turia said.

She hoped Dr Pita Sharples, a key supporter, would stand as a candidate and also believed he would make an "ideal leader".

If she was asked to take a leadership role she hoped it could be as a co-leader, she said.

Asked if she had any parting words for her colleagues, she said: "No, they have got a job to do and I expect that they'll do it.

"I think with Parekura [Horomia] I will always have a relationship. He and I have known each other for over 20 years, so you don't wipe that out.

"I've worked with both Mahara [Okeroa] and Mita [Ririnui] in the past ... and Mahara is also a whanaunga [relation] to me.

"To be frank, I've hardly mixed socially since I have been in here [Parliament]. Probably the person who has been the closest to me was [MP] Tim Barnett. I'll miss Tim, but I'm sure that I'll see him."

Mrs Turia said detractors claiming a Maori party would not get off the ground were wrong. "There's so many people making contact and wanting to help.

"One of the exciting things about the establishment of the party is that we've had young people, old people, urban, rural, the radical, the conservative all wanting to unite.

"The hikoi has been an inspiration to many of our people not only to be involved in the hikoi but also to take control of our political destiny."