Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says Labour's stance to not work with his party "smacks of panic and political manoeurvering particularly against the Maori vote."
The Waiariki MP held a press conference at his Rotorua office today in response to Labour leader David Cunliffe ruling out Cabinet positions for the Maori Party should they be elected to Government. Mr Cunliffe said he preferred to work with the Green Party or NZ First.
" I'm seriously disappointed in that statement by the leader of the Labour Party....this is panic politics - up until now Cunliffe has been positive about working with the Maori Party in Government.
"I would definitely see this as a knee jerk reaction," Mr Flavell said.
Mr Flavell said the party was pushed into a corner by the opposition as latest poll results showed that Labour wouldn't have the luxury of forming a Government at all.
"When Labour get into a tight spot they dump Maori. Look what happened over the infamous Orewa speech 10 years ago by Don Brash promoting anti-Maori sentiment."