Crucial meeting for Tariana Turia

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Crucial meeting for Tariana Turia

3News NZ

Tariana Turia

Tariana Turia

By Political Editor Duncan Garner

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is talking down suggestions she is positioning herself to walk away from the National Party coalition government.

The Maori Party will meet the Prime Minister tonight, over comments the party described as "insulting".

And there has been speculation Ms Turia might take her Maori Party and walk right out of John Key's Government over the spat about who owns the water, but today she played it all down.

“We've never said we're not committed to this Government and those are issues we'll canvass with them," says Ms Turia.

Last week she left the door open to walk out, but today she backed away from that threat - largely blaming the media.

“It's only the media who has raised it and the Mana Party,” says Ms Turia.

So Ms Turia and her party will meet Mr Key tonight; at issue, his comments that he can ignore the Waitangi Tribunal recommendations over the Maori claim over water.

Ms Turia amongst others saw that as insulting, despite it being a statement of fact. She was not keen to discuss her approach tonight.

“I'm not prepared to tell you what I want,” Ms Turia says.

But Mr Key says he will not be saying sorry.

“No, we won’t be apologising, that's a statement of the Government's position,” says the Prime Minister.

But in reality for Mr Key and Ms Turia this is a tiff between workmates, not war and a split, and they have both expressed belief in each other.

“I believe the Prime Minister is committed to Maori rights and interests,” says Ms Turia.

“My view is they have achieved a lot in Government, I'd be sorry to lose them and I hope they don't go," says Mr Key.

Labour also waded in, saying selling the assets amounts to a confiscation for Maori.

“I believe it's confiscation, yes at the moment triggering the racial itch that we can do without,” says Parekura Horomia.

To which Ms Turia's intense dislike of Labour became clear once again.

“I think Parekura Horomia should have thought about that when he was confiscating the foreshore and seabed and did nothing about it,” says Ms Turia.

So the lights are set to burn in the Beehive well into tonight.

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Comments

18/07/2012 10:21:24 p.m.

FED UP WITH THE MEDIA ./ freedom of speech ? really ? . wrote:

don't forget the baubles of office. but Duncan garner says at least they have seat at the cabinet table , but if nothing gets any better for poor Maori the seat at the table is worthless . but a the bro ocracry you seed the money has to keep flowing in . a the baubles of office Maori party . and i guess that makes national big fat hypocrites for criticizing NZ first in 2008 @ 11. .funny how duncan anounces the result of the meeting before it has even taken place . he already new thats why . the maori party are drama queens and are spineless and never do follow through with threats to walk out . its the money keeps those Maori party mps in government and the baubles of office . any way the shambles the government looks these days is not the Maori party s fault it is john keys and nationals .

18/07/2012 9:05:07 p.m.

timetobootouttheloosers wrote:

the national party and their fanatical supporters you could hear them on the radio this week nothing but bag the Maori party the media as well why ? because they were not supporting national , same thing the nats did to NZ first , national and the media had planned for the Maori party had the quit the coalition . i challenge the media to say im not telling the truth .

18/07/2012 8:56:04 p.m.

SHARON wrote:

the whole thing is a sick joke on the voters . Duncan garner told us at 6pm what the out come would be because he already new . . the problem is the Maori party mps like the baubles of office and at days end thatch it . they always talk the talk the Maori party but never walk the walk . the other plan was if they did pull out the mainstream media would have unleashed a huge anti Maori party campaign .you could hear it on radio talk back .the whole thing is a stitch up .