ONE PACIFIC He Kawenata with the Māori Party

According to Aiiloilo Dr. Elise Puni, Co-Leader of One Pacific ‘…some of the key essence of He Kawenata between One Pacific and the Māori Party, are’:

• Acknowledgement of their common ancestral origins.
• Their shared aspirations to progress whānau and aiga, to live in dignity and prosperity in Aotearoa.
• One Pacific and its leadership recognise and affirm the status and role of Māori as tangata whenua and confirm their commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• One Pacific and Māori Party in agreement to achieve kotahitanga – unity of purpose and direction.
• Together, both parties will explore opportunities to combine their voices and political oneness beyond the 2017 General Election and seek ways to solidify their relationship founded on this agreement.

Key terms
Ikamafana Tameifuna, Co-Leader and representing Tonga, says that ‘...He Kawenata between One Pacific and Māori Party is based on mutual respect, and goodwill, as well as shared values and cultural courtesies. The key terms include:’

• One Pacific shall put forward up to 9 nominees to be considered as General Seat Candidates of the Māori Party in the 2017 General Election.
• The Māori Party will accept One Pacific Candidates for the Party List and will give equal consideration to their nominees in regard to their priority on the Party List.
• The Māori Party and One Pacific will collaborate on incorporating their shared aspirations for whānau and aiga in policies that will be included in the Māori Party policy manifesto.
• Considerations for meaningful ways of consolidating their relationship beyond the Elections.

Where to from here?
One Pacific and their communities will give their vote to the Māori Party both for Electorates and Party Vote.

‘Furthermore, One Pacific will campaign hard for their Pacific Candidates under the Māori Party ticket’, says Dr. Joe Williams, Co-Leader and representing Cook Islands.

ENDS

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