Maori Party pushing ahead with Fiji mission: Sharples

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says he is disappointed not to be going to Fiji but the party will still be sending a delegation.

- NZPA reported yesterday the Maori Party leaders prevented a schism with their support partner the National Government by agreeing to pursue plans to visit Fiji.

Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata would lead the group, Dr Sharples said today.

The delegation would not just talk to Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama who took power in a 2006 coup, but would talk to chiefs and organisations.

Dr Sharples sparked controversy yesterday when he told reporters he was considering going, after earlier telling Mr Key he would not.

Mr Key vetoed Dr Sharples leading the group and said fellow co-leader Tariana Turia could not go either as both were ministers and needed his permission. His handling of the matter has been called into question after Mrs Turia said being directed not to go was not mana-enhancing to their relationship.

The Maori Party raised the issue on Sunday and at that point Mr Key said while he did not support the idea, as the Pacific Islands Forum was New Zealand's focus for talks, he would not stop anyone travelling.

Labour leader Phil Goff used the issue to attack Mr Key in Parliament. He said Mr Key gave the Maori Party co-leaders the impression they could go in their party capacity and not as ministers.

Mr Key accepted he may have caused confusion.

"I stand by all the statements I made, but ... like any politician I could choose my phrases a little more accurately," he said.

Mr Key last night said after the episode over MP Richard Worth's visit to India he had made it clear "it would be very unusual circumstances under which I would sign (off) a private visit by a cabinet minister".

Dr Worth got into trouble by making a private visit during which he promoted an aviation company in which he had an interest.

Dr Sharples accepted Mr Key's position.

"I think he considered it in the light of the difficulties encountered in that visit to India - and it's his prerogative to do that - and we accept that totally," he told reporters.

"It's a shame though, I was really looking forward to going."

Mr Key said it was important the Government spoke with one voice on Fiji but he would not try prevent the delegation going. He did not see it as a snub.

"I have made my position clear in term of leaders. As I said on Sunday it is a free country, people can travel overseas if they want to. I don't have jurisdiction over any other MP other than a cabinet minister."

He doubted they would make headway with Cdre Bainimarama and yesterday said the coup leader may use the visit as a propaganda tool.

Maori MP Hone Harawira said if he was asked he would be happy to go on the trip.

Asked if he thought the Cdre Bainimarama could be reasoned with he said: "I think that the people of Fiji are no better off, no worse off than we are here in Aotearoa and I think if we can simply talk to one another we can achieve things."'

Mr Harawira said the Maori Party wanted to talk with Fijian people as Pacific relatives.

"We are all children of Maui, we are all sons and daughters of the Pacific that's a road has yet to be travelled," he said.

"New Zealand's relationship with Fiji has come to a dead stop ... the question therefore arises should we sit back and do no more and the answer to that for Maori people is clearly no we have to do more."

Responding to media questions, Dr Sharples accepted Mr Harawira was not known for his diplomacy but was unconcerned saying delegation leader Prof Winiata was a "gentleman of gentlemen".

The Green Party's foreign affairs spokesman, Keith Locke, said he fully supported the Maori Party's objective and thought a delegation might be able to help Fiji through its crisis.

Mr Locke said he was considering going himself but he didn't want to leave "in a blaze of publicity" and was still thinking about joining the Maori Party's delegation, if he was wanted.

- NZPA