The Maori Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister have a big job to do to win back traditional Maori support after running head-on into trouble with 35 iwi over fisheries assets, National Maori Affairs spokesperson Georgina Te Heuheu said today.

“The Treaty Tribes Coalition stand today protesting at the Government’s treatment of them and its failure to constructively address the fisheries asset allocation is astounding.

“The Prime Minister and her Ministers have only themselves to blame for this mess.

“Helen Clark attacked the Treaty Tribes Coalition last month instead of engaging in constructive discussion to try to get the issue resolved.

“This is yet another case of the Government shooting the messenger. In doing so it is costing $1million a month from the non-allocation of assets to iwi – and is clearly costing the Government support from its traditional base.

“Labour has big problems on its hands.

“It has failed to show leadership and direction on economic policy and we are all paying the price in higher costs and lower business and consumer confidence.

“And now Labour has created major rifts among its traditional support base because it can’t even get policy right for them.

“Being in Government means providing leadership, tackling difficult issues, working to create consensus and getting on an resolving problems. The Government seems to be failing across the board on all four counts.”

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