Tribe optimistic of seats breakthrough

Pita Sharples is optimistic about the proposal's success. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Email us photo and video from the hikoi

A breakthrough on Super City Maori seats could be close as iwi prepare for today's hikoi protesting at the Government's rejection of the plan.

Iwi have put a proposal to the Government pushing for Maori representation on the Auckland Council, which addresses Prime Minister John Key's aversion to mana whenua representatives or appointment by tribes as recommended by the Royal Commission.

Tainui's Tuku Morgan and Tiwana Tibble for Ngati Whatua are leading the talks with National and the Maori Party.

Neither would comment yesterday but in a statement said a joint proposal had been submitted to the Cabinet via Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.

Dr Sharples said he could not go into details, but the proposal included a minimum of two mana whenua seats.

"What I can tell you [is that the proposal contains] a means by which mana whenua can select in a democratic fashion their representatives."

He was optimistic about the proposal's success.

"I guess it's got to go through the hoops. I think the hikoi will promote the whole urgency of it."

Tainui and Ngati Whatua said options included details of potential voting systems for Maori.

"The model proposed balances a need for Maori being included at the top table while maintaining the National Government's principles of democracy, efficiency and transparency. The details of those negotiations are fluid and the outcome is still uncertain."

While the Prime Minister says the door is not closed on the issue, he has made it clear he doesn't like the commission's recommendation that one of the three seats' representatives would be appointed by tribes.

The other two Maori seats would have been elected by voters on the Maori roll.

This month he said there were inherent difficulties when an area had two iwi, in this case Ngati Whatua and Tainui, with the status.

"The second thing is we live in a democracy, and having someone in a democratic election appointed seems to me to run counter to the logic of what a democracy is all about," Mr Key said.

Protest action will be rolling throughout the city from early this morning, culminating in a hikoi up Queen St and a rally in Aotea Square.

The NZ Transport Agency was expecting delays in every direction for people coming into the city in rush-hour. Motorists travelling on the harbour bridge and all motorways would be affected.

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority said bus services would be subject to diversions dependent on road closures and openings. General manager Mark Lambert advised travellers to expect delays between 9.30am and 4pm. Alternative public transport such as trains and ferries should be considered.