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