Maori party aims for race unity

By RUTH BERRY

Improving race relations is a priority for the new Maori Party, co-leader Pita Sharples said yesterday.

Dr Sharples, speaking at the unveiling of the party's logo, said it was essential "'that the concept of tangata whenua is entrenched in New Zealand in a positive manner".

"What we want to do is bind New Zealand."

The other leader, former Labour MP Tariana Turia, also said the party was for all New Zealanders, regardless of ethnicity.

It would be reaching out to Pacific voters in particular.

She dismissed suggestions that National or Labour would move to eradicate the Maori seats if her party won them, suggesting it would be politically too difficult for them.

And she said the party would work with any other party in Parliament, including National and its leader, Don Brash.

"You can work alongside anybody if the cards are on the table in front of you."

The logo, displayed after the party's leaders filed an application to register as a political party, was designed to illustrate three concepts.

The use of the word Maori in the name was an affirmation of tangata whenua, the co-leaders said.

The colours were adopted from the proverb of the first Maori King, Potatau Te Wherowhero - "Kotahi te kohao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango me te miro whero." ("There is a single eye of the needle through which the white, black and red threads must pass.")

And the word "ao" which literally means "world" was highlighted within the word Maori to emphasis "our world, te ao Maori" and Aotearoa.

Mrs Turia said the party was developing policy and hoped to issue a draft manifesto on July 11, the day after the byelection in Mrs Turia's former seat of Tai Hauauru and the date of the party's official launch.

The party believed it would win the seven Maori seats, and was considering whether to contest some general seats with a high Maori population, she said.

Dr Sharples said he was planning to stand, but had not decided yet whether he wanted to contest Tamaki Makaurau or Ikaroa Rawhiti.

He accused the Government of subjecting some of his education programmes to extra scrutiny after the party's creation.

The Electoral Commission yesterday said it was processing the party's application for registration.

Parties have to have 500 financial members to register.

The Electoral Act prevented the logo application being processed while a byelection campaign was in progress, and that would be done afterwards, the commission said.