Press Release
Agenda TV

ENTRENCHMENT NOT BOTTOM LINE FOR MAORI PARTY-NATIONAL DEAL

Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata says entrenching the Maori seats would not be a bottom line for the party when negotiating any agreement to work with the National Party.

Asked today on TVOne’s “Agenda” whether entrenchment would be a bottom line Mr Winiata said: “No it is not.”

“What we want in the first instance is that we act toward each other in mana enhancing ways.

“If we can agree on that, then the way is open for lots of arrangements to be made and the discussion of the entrenchment of seats will be in that context.”

Mr Winiata emphasised that instead of bottom lines, strengthening the relationship between National and the Maori Party was the priority for any deal they made.

“The relationship is the prior issue. We get that right then we’ll deal with the entrenchment and other issues including the foreshore and seabed.”

Mr Winiata said he believed reconciliation between the two parties would eventually lead to the reconciliation of kawanatanga and tino rangatiratanga.

ENDS

© Scoop Media