Maori Party, National still friends after meeting

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Maori, Govt still friends after meeting

3News NZ

Tariana Turia

Tariana Turia

By political reporter Tova O’Brien

The co-leaders of the Maori Party and the Prime Minister have just emerged after an hour-and-40-minute-long meeting to discuss John Key's recent comments about ignoring Waitangi Tribunal recommendations over water rights.

The big news, which does not come as a great surprise, is that the relationship between the Maori Party and the Government is still in tact. 
 
The Maori co-leaders say the Prime Minister did not apologise because he did not need to and they would be discussing Maori water rights after the Tribunal hearing between themselves.

John Key's comments upset the Maori Party and fuelled speculation it would walk away from the government.

Tariana Turia had waitied more than a week for an audience with the Prime Minister so it was important to go into tonight's meeting with as much diplomacy as possible.

“We've never said that we're not committed to staying with this government and those are issues that will be canvassed with them,” Ms Turia said today.

So it's not so much "backing down" as "backing away" from comments she made last week when we asked if her party plans to quit the government.

“I can't confirm anything at this point until we meet we don't really know where this is going to be going,” she said.

But where it came from is clear - John Key sparked tension by saying he's prepared to ignore Waitangi Tribunal recommendations over Maori water claims

And he is right - the Tribunal is non-binding, and he is also unapologetic.

“We won't be apologising I mean that's a statement of the Government’s position,” said Mr Key.

And it's hard to know if Ms Turia wants one anyway.

And in the good spirit of things the Government doesn't want the Maori Party to leave either.

“Well I hope they don't, I mean it's always possible, you can't nail people's feet to the floor it's like any relationship it's bound up in trust and a desire to want to be there, said Mr Key

The alternative is Labour which is taking a harder line. It says asset sales amount to a confiscation for Maori.

“I believe it's a confiscation, I believe it's nothing more than triggering a racial itch,” said Parekura Horomia

“ Parekura Horomia should have thought about that when he was confiscating the foreshore and seabed,”said Ms Turia.

So she may be disappointed with the Government but her dislike of Labour seems to go deeper.

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Comments

21/07/2012 11:38:43 p.m.

john Willets wrote:

Not only should he ignore the treaty it should be burned to hell. This disgusting piece of paper seems only to suit maori radicals for their own greedy, self serving gains. I wish non maori NZers would stand up and say what they really feel instead of hiding behind closed doors slagging maoridom off. NZ should grow some instead of acquiesing to anything maori say and to hell with being labelled a racist.

19/07/2012 6:46:56 p.m.

David wrote:

The Maori Party need to gain a little mana... and leave this abortive coalition... they disagree with many of Nationals policies... and yet they are still there. Turia needs to grow up and stop sulking like a little child over the foreshore and seabed ACT... Nationals is barely any better. @ Jim, your posts are normally racially derogative, and everytime labour does or says anything you moan like a little girl. Moaning seems to be more of a right wing preoccupation.

19/07/2012 1:11:49 p.m.

eddie wrote:

@ Waikato...they didn't forget at last election and they are still there with National. Prey tell what did Labour give Maori?...why/how were Maori better off with Labour, afterall the Maori Party was born out of Labour policy, can you tell us all why Maori should walk away, and possibly side with Labour..what would they gain for Maoridom in general not being with National, apart from making you feel a bit better?

19/07/2012 10:35:53 a.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "The big news, which does not come as a great surprise, is that the relationship between the Maori Party and the Government is still in tact.

The Maori co-leaders say the Prime Minister did not apologise because he did not need to and they would be discussing Maori water rights after the Tribunal hearing between themselves."

Thank you Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples for having the meeting with John Key and sorting things out in a rational way. There is no point in leaving your coalition with National as at least you can have meetings to get a desired outcome. If you left National you would only become part of the leftist, moaning opposition parties with Labour, Mana, NZ First and the Greens - all led by Winstone and Hone.

By staying a coalition partner you will get somewhere slowly and by leaving you would get nowhere fast.

Its a no-brainer.

19/07/2012 9:16:31 a.m.

vicki wrote:

If I was a Maori person I would not back this lady at all, she is just being a wealth protector and she seems to keep changing her story to suit herself on the day. Key seems to have some kind of power over Turia, she is accountable to her people, not some rich white dude that only looks out for his own interests and need to satiate his addiction to wealth and share trading. Key has clearly shown that he does not honour the treaty and never will.

19/07/2012 7:50:25 a.m.

Ruz wrote:

This is very odd. Turia now understands thaf John Key was only stating the law when he said that the Government "could" choose to ignore any findings of the Waitangi Tribunal. I thought everybody understood that, except it would seem for the Maori Party and others in Maoridom. But to save face the Maori Party are now saying that John Key has promised not to legislate away Maori rights or interests in water. No doubt Turia and Co will try and paint this as a win when it was never even an issue in the current water ownership debate.

19/07/2012 12:08:26 a.m.

Nick wrote:

Turia, don't criticize Parekura Horomia about the foreshore and seabed when you do not put up a good fight for Maori yourself, you remind me of that movie Animal Farm, you should watch it and do the opposite of it, you may learn something. .

18/07/2012 11:42:32 p.m.

Nick wrote:

What a complete joke the Maori Party are, tonight's meeting wasn't suppose to be a party for them, they are so WEAK as well as been so bloody predictable, they pretend to talk big, but as always, they crumble. Keys disrespect the people again by saying he won't be apologizing for his comment and whats worse is the Maori Party wasn't really interested in one, why did they even have a meeting, stop thinking about your smoking bill Turia, and fight otherwise get out completely, for gods sake you are making us sick.

18/07/2012 11:30:59 p.m.

Waikato wrote:

The Maori Party and National are one and the same these days. Voters won't forget that.