By 3 News staff
The Mana Party is calling for the Maori Party to walk the talk if the Government ignores any recommendations made by the Waitangi Tribunal over water right.
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira says if the Government were to ignore any recommendations that were favourable to iwi ownership, the Maori Party should walk away from their coalition with National.
However he told Firstline he doesn’t think they will.
“They have no intention of leaving,” he says. “They’re big on threatening to walk but they’re pretty weak when it comes to walking the talk.”
Mr Harawira says the sale of state assets is an issue that affects all New Zealanders.
“This is a claim about water and water is an essential element in the sale of state assets.”
He thinks Prime Minister John Key will get burnt by this water issue.
“When this gets to the high court and he finds out that the New Zealand Government does not have the ownership papers to a car they are trying to sell to private investors.” However Mr Key is standing firm on the Government's position around Maori rights to water - he says they don't own it.
He's also reiterated that the Waitangi Tribunal has no binding power over the Government, and that asset sales will go ahead.
Watch the full interview
3 News