Media Release

24 September 2008

Maori Party Statement Astonishing

The Maori Party claims today about talks held with New Zealand First are astonishing says party leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Since election night 2005 and over a wide range of issues the Maori Party have discussed with New Zealand First a number of topics, and the courses either party would take and why,” said Mr Peters.

”More importantly, we have discussed worthy Maori causes such as the Central North Island settlement and how we could bring these long running concerns to a satisfactory conclusion.

“The Maori Party began with the view of the minority of tribes while New Zealand First thought that a collective agreement was the way to go throughout.

“Among discussions too numerous to quantify they have tried to construe one conversation as having attempted to put pressure on the Maori Party. The admission that they could be pressured is unworthy of them.

“I am certain that their actions in the Privileges Committee, as regrettable as they are, have evoked this guilty reaction,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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