Maori cool on party merge

Naida Glavish

Maori Party president Naida Glavish has made it clear the Maori Party will not merge with any other political party.

About 60 people attended a hui at Te Ohaaki marae, Huntly, to discuss the issue recently on whether the party would join forces with a minor political movement that's now outside of Parliament.

Mrs Glavish said the group had made its decision.

"Our party is willing to work with any political movement but we will not be merging with any other party."

She said the Maori Party was clear on its obligations.

"Our ambition is to address problems such as helping children in the care of Child Youth and Family, improving our people's health through housing initiatives, as well as ensuring our reo remains alive. We are clear that we're here to help Maori and non-Maori before thinking about any political alliance," Mrs Glavish said.

She said she was reminded of the words by the late James Henare: "We have come too far to not go further; we have done too much to not do more."