Mana and Maori Party discuss deal for Waiariki electorate

Te Ururoa Flavell. PHOTO/FILE

A call for a unified Maori vote could see the Mana Party not put up a Waiariki candidate in this year's general election and instead encourage its supporters to give their vote to Te Ururoa Flavell.

Speaking at the Ratana Pa on Monday, the Maori Party co-leader and Waiariki MP said times had changed since the Ratana Church made an agreement with the Labour Party for mutual support in the 1930s.

He said it was time for a new Maori movement, led by the Maori Party, to win all seven Maori electorate seats, six of which were held by the Labour Party.

The discussions came after calls were made by the Kingitanga movement for Maori to unify politically in the interests of all Maori.

Mr Flavell said discussions between Mana and the Maori Party had touched on the possibility Mana would not stand a candidate in Waiariki and the Maori Party would not stand a candidate in Mana leader Hone Harawira's Te Tai Tokerau electorate.

But Mr Flavell said no agreement had yet been reached and a full statement would be released over Waitangi weekend.

Mr Flavell and Mr Harawira came on to Ratana Pa together on Monday and met again after a pohiri."But there will not be any merge into one party," he said.

Mana Party Waiariki candidate in 2014, Annette Sykes, told the Rotorua Daily Post she was positive about the developing relationship.

Ms Sykes said she was part of an inter-party working group that had taken seriously calls by Maori elders and the Kingitanga movement for Maori to unite politically.

"There is a common desire for an independent Maori voice and I'm glad we have been working to give substance to that."

She said Mana and the Maori Party were working toward the common goal of removing Labour from Maori seats and she supported Mr Harawira in achieving that.

Labour Party candidate for Waiariki Tamati Coffey, who was also at Ratana Pa today, said if the Mana/Maori Party agreement went ahead, it did not mean those votes would default to the Maori Party.

"Those Kiwis sought an alternative to the six years of not delivering for all Maori at the last election and now with nine years of nothing under the belt of the Maori Party, I believe the same will still stand.

"More than a coalition partner in someone else's bed, Labour will respect and deliver for all Maori, as the new government of choice leading into 2018."

2014 Waiariki election results

Party vote
- Labour Party 8595
- Maori Party 4880
- NZ First 2809
- Internet Mana 2524
- Green Party 1787
- National Party 1120

Candidate vote
- Te Ururoa Flavell 9726
- Waititi Rawiri (Labour) 5837
- Annette Sykes (Internet Mana) 5482
- Pat Spellman (NZ Independent Coalition) 301