Post-Election Negotiations - Maori Party

"Neither National nor Labour will achieve an absolute majority and each of these parties will want to talk with the Mäori Party" says the President of the Party, Professor Whatarangi Winiata.

"Of course all parties will want to talk to us - but we will not resile from our earlier statement which made our position clear, that we will do our utmost to ensure that the National Party does not make it to the Government benches" said Professor Winiata.

"Plans are in place for all post-election enquiries to be taken to the Party's membership which stands at 21,000. The Mäori Party has asked the electorates to be prepared for meetings commencing Sunday afternoon with a view to confirming, within six days, the Party's position on how it will conduct its business in Parliament".

"Mäori voters and their partners numbering 600,000 will 'hikoi' to the polling booths with a significant proportion of them mindful of what National has said and of what Labour has done, including confiscating the foreshore and seabed" predicts Professor Winiata.

The Mäori Party expects to win all of the Mäori seats and attract sufficient party votes to make the Mäori Party the third largest party in Parliament".

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