Mâori Party makes headway on future planning

Mâori Party held a Special National Meeting on Sunday Te Kauri Marae in Huntly, to discuss strengthening the Party into the future.

"The hui today was very constructive" said Pem Bird Mâori Party President.

"About 150 members came together firm in the belief that we must look at how we grow our membership base, revitalise our kaupapa and how it will support us into the future."

"We gave significant time in the hui to discussing the succession planning. This discussion will return because it is so important to our future.

"At the hui today a new kaupapa-based framework was tabled which challenges us to think differently about traditional political leadership.

"This is forging new ground for the Mâori Party and for New Zealand politics, and we want to give sufficient time to the discussion to enable a secure foundation to be laid.

"Whilst the debate continues; the status quo remains and Pita and Tariana will stay on in their roles as co-leaders until this process is finalised."

"It is clear that all three of our MPs are much loved and respected by our people. Each of our MPs are leaders in their own right, and fulfil various leadership obligations and duties within the party.

"The Mâori Party lives by a view that leadership resides within us all. Our constitution requires us to live up to the expectation of consensus. We take the challenge of consensus decision-making seriously, and we know this takes time.

In the days leading up to the opening of the Mâori Electoral Option opens, we are committed to ensuring we have an exceptional team supported by a robust process by which to carry kaupapa tuku iho in Parliament and across the motu.

ENDS

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