Mahuta to defy request to declare her hand on foreshore policy

10.00am

One of Labour's dissident Maori MPs, Nanaia Mahuta, says she won't be forced into declaring her support or opposition for the foreshore and seabed policy today.

Labour MPs gather today to sign off legislation covering the controversial policy and Prime Minister Helen Clark said those MPs who want to oppose the legislation will have to seek the permission of caucus at today's meeting.

Tariana Turia and Nanaia Mahuta have been the most vocal in their opposition, though both have dithered over whether they will abstain or vote against the policy, which is strongly opposed by some Maori.

Ms Mahuta said today she would not be forced to declare her hand, despite the Prime Minister's wishes, until she knows more about the policy.

"It is irresponsible to actually. As long as you don't have the detail in front of you, it would be dishonest and irresponsible," she told National Radio today.

Helen Clark has indicated she is tired of the political haggling over the legislation.

"I am just pleased some decisions are about to be made, it has been exhaustive and exhausting," she said yesterday.

Ms Mahuta said it was still "speculation" about what would be in the bill and neither she nor Mrs Turia were taking a decision to cross the floor lightly.

"We have not personalised this to ourselves. We have consistently raised issues that we think are significant. I didn't think the Government was out of step with Maori. It concerns me that Maori have consistently objected...to the look of the policy.

"There have been a number of negotiations...and it may have changed the final shape of the bill."

The absolute protection of Maori customary rights was her aim, Ms Mahuta said.

"Anything else is an extinguishment."

Maori agreed that there should be public access to the beaches and that territory below the high tide mark could not be sold.

Mrs Turia will almost certainly be stripped of her ministerial roles if she votes against the bill.

Ms Mahuta is a backbench MP who has no executive roles to lose.

There has been speculation that the two could force by-elections, but Ms Mahuta avoided answering questions on that issue today.

She said it was a "sad indictment" that Maori women MPs were sidelined when they disagreed on policy issues.

The policy will be released tomorrow and the enacting legislation tabled in Parliament on Thursday.

Helen Clark has secured a majority vote for it in Parliament by gaining the support of New Zealand First and United Future.

Both the minor parties were today studying the legislation, and neither of them indicated they had any problems with it.

Helen Clark indicated yesterday the caucus would let the two MPs oppose the legislation if they wanted to, although there is likely to be a lively debate behind closed doors about whether they should be given special dispensation to break ranks.

Helen Clark said she expected the caucus to be "inclusive", and cited a precedent in the case of West Coast MP Damien O'Connor who was allowed to vote against legislation which ended beech logging in his electorate.

The first vote on the legislation will not happen until its first reading in Parliament, which will be in the first week of May.

Helen Clark is not going to let the uncertainty go on until then and wants the issue to come to a head at the meeting, due to start at 10.30am today.

- NZPA