Maori leaders called to talks after Key veto

John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

Prime Minister John Key was talking to Maori Party co-leaders last night to patch up a strain in the relationship after he bluntly vetoed Pita Sharples' wish to travel to Fiji as part of a Maori delegation.

Mr Key yesterday exercised his prime ministerial veto against Dr Sharples' plans to visit Fiji - a change of mind from Sunday when he said Dr Sharples could go in a personal capacity, or as leader of the Maori Party.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira is now likely to go instead and the delegation will be led by the party's president Whatarangi Winiata.

Dr Sharples and Tariana Turia said last night they accepted the Prime Minister had the right to make the decision and they would abide by it.

However, Mrs Turia said it did not mean the party agreed with it.

'What I think is he's asserting his right as Prime Minister to say yes or no. He does have the right to do that. I don't have to agree with it, but I do accept it."

She believed it was possible to separate their roles as ministers and Maori Party co-leaders.

"I think Commodore Bainimarama would have understood the difference. He's not a fool."

She said Dr Sharples had been clear that the reasons he wanted to go were because of Maori whakapapa to other Pacific nations, and the trio would discuss it with Mr Key at a meeting last night.

The stoush falls on the fifth anniversary of the day the hikoi on the foreshore and seabed arrived at Parliament's steps - the hikoi which resulted in the Maori Party being formed.

The incident is unlikely to damage the long-term relationship, but does emphasise the difficulties in understanding the two parties sometimes have.

Mr Key had believed he had secured agreement from Dr Sharples on Monday that he would not proceed with the delegation. However, Dr Sharples announced the party was still planning to go ahead with it after meeting his caucus yesterday morning, forcing Mr Key to issue a swift "no".

Mr Key accepted he may have caused confusion, but said his reasons for blocking Dr Sharples' participation were because the Government had to be seen to hold a consistent position on Fiji.

"Effectively [his position as Maori Party co-leader] is inseparable from his position as a minister on this issue."

He said he had also made it clear he would carefully vet personal travel by MPs after minister Richard Worth came under fire for a trip on which he praised New Zealand's aviation training, despite being involved in a company which offered it.

Fiji's interim attorney-general Aiyez Saiyed-Khaiyum said they would be happy to receive the delegation.

He would not comment on Mr Key's actions, but said if Dr Sharples was to come he would be treated as a minister of New Zealand.

Otago University law lecturer Andrew Geddis said Mr Key had little choice but to prevent Dr Sharples from taking part even as Maori Party co-leader especially in the area of international relations.

"Within New Zealand we know the politics of it all, but on the world stage those nuances aren't apparent."

He said for a minister, even in a private capacity, to travel to Fiji and voice support to the regime would send "mixed messages."