Maori, Mana party negotiations at deadlock

Maori Party president Pem Bird, left, and Mana Party negotiator Willie Jackson. Photos / File

The Maori Party president says a ceasefire could still be reached with the Mana Party despite non-aggression proposals being outright rejected at the weekend.

Mana negotiator Willie Jackson put two options to the Maori Party last week. The first said Mana would not stand any candidates in Maori Party seats but the established party should leave list campaigning to Mana.

The second variation proposed that competing party candidates would not be put up in leaders' seats - Dr Sharples' Tamaki Makaurau electorate, Tariana Turia's Te Tai Hauauru and Mr Harawira's Tai Tokerau seat.

However, Maori Party president Pem Bird said while those options had been rejected he put a counter-proposal to Mana negotiator Willie Jackson at the original meeting last week.

It was a model based on the Crown and Tuhoe's recently signed agreement which Tuhoe hopes will kickstart stalled settlement talks.

Any relationship agreement should form the basis of a respectful and ongoing relationship - and the door was still open for that to occur. But there were still difficulties. The major issue being Mr Harawira's continual "dissing" of the Maori Party.

"Mutual trust and mutual respect. If we get that, anything's possible," Mr Bird said.

Mr Bird said he felt the Maori Party were being criticised unfairly for not accepting the terms.

"We didn't get a response to [its own proposal]. It's like the Maori Party's the villain of the piece. We're not being crybabies - [but] there's factual stuff that nobody is interested in."

The first Mana proposal, where the Maori Party gave up campaigning for the party vote, was a step too far, he said. A consequence of it could see its broadcasting funding allocation from the Electoral Commission compromised if it failed to submit a party list.

He said he hoped Mr Jackson would get back to the party about a relationship agreement.

Mr Jackson said he can't recall Mr Bird bringing the subject up during what he termed as "cordial" negotiations.

"Surely he would have mentioned it to me on Sunday night [when the proposals were rejected] but he mentioned nothing, and he asked for nothing.

"He said nothing to me."

Mr Jackson said Mr Bird's comments amounted to an attempt to save face for the party.

"I think what Pem wants is a relationship...but I think the reality now with the response ... is there's going to be a war between the two parties and I just think that's very sad."