During the minor party leaders' debate yesterday on TVNZ's Q+A programme, co-leader Pita Sharples said he would only support partial asset sales if the shares were all New Zealand-owned.
"For those particular companies, iwi have shown interest and that's a form of saving and we need to save in New Zealand.
"If they want to do that, we would support them to invest in that."
The National Party wants to sell shares in Air New Zealand and four energy companies while retaining 51 per cent Crown ownership, but it is not imposing rules to prevent overseas ownership of shares.
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, who quit the Maori Party this year, was staunchly opposed to the policy.
"Why on earth are we selling assets that we already own back to ourselves?"
The Maori Party manifesto's central focus was Whanau Ora and iwi-based solutions for Maori issues, such as marae-based health clinics and having each of the 5843 Maori organisations employ two Maori youths.
Several policies were aimed at alleviating poverty, such as a power rebate every year for low-income families, universal services for children under 6, and no tax on the first $25,000 of income.
It also called for all new laws to be vetted against the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and to include a statement on the impact on inequality, and for free trade agreements to adhere to Treaty principles.
At the campaign launch at the weekend Dr Sharples, 70, and co-leader Tariana Turia, 67, said they did not expect to be in politics beyond the end of the next parliamentary term in 2014.
Mrs Turia, who holds the safe seat of Te Tai Hauauru, said she might even retire before then.
