Statement from Tariana Turia and Dr Pita Sharples;

Co-leaders, Maori Party

September 5 2006

“At last week’s caucus meeting, we had agreed that the Maori Party would not make any further comment on the Ingram Report” said Mrs Turia, co-leader of the Maori Party. “This was the position that we consistently advised the media last week”.

“The statements that Mr Harawira made on this issue, are regretted, and we have discussed this issue in Caucus this morning”.

“The Party has a clear policy on cash donations and koha as it relates to Maori Party Members of Parliament”.

“We do not believe that koha is an easy concept to debate under the glare of the media spotlight” said Dr Sharples.

“There is no dispute around the accepting of koha, in the spirit of our tikanga. The discussion has been about the way in which koha is treated following acceptance” said Dr Sharples.

“The practice of the Maori Party when receiving koha is that we receipt it and record it in the same way as we do all other income that comes into the Maori Party” said Mrs Turia.

“Any cash donation given to a Member of Parliament will be processed through the Party mechanisms” said Mrs Turia.

“The Maori Party believes that it would be useful for the Parliament to have some more clearly defined policies and procedures around the acceptance and acknowledgment of such gifts and donations”.

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