Maori Party Use Back Channel For Negotiations

Wednesday, 12 November 2008, 3:23 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Coalition Update: Maori Party Use Back Channel For Negotiations

This afternoon the Maori Party arrived 20 minutes late for their meeting with John Key. The Maori party's representatives Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples arrived via a back entrance to the National Party's offices at around 2pm and left later than expected at 3:10pm once again exiting through the back entrance. They were eventually caught by the media back on their own floor and made a brief statement concerning the meeting.

Update

At 5 O 'Clock a document is expected to be produced for the Maori Party to taker to their hui. Maori party MP Hone Harawira has already started talking to constituents on the basis of the outline from earlier meetings. Co-leader Pita Sharples will be at a meeting tonight in Henderson and Turia will also be consulting tomorrow.

Understood to be included in the proposed agreement is discussion of changes to the seabed and foreshore legislation and discussion around entrenchment of the Maori Seats seats. Cabinet positions, plural, are beleived to be on the table.

The Maori Party and National Leader John Ke expect the consultation to be completed by Sunday.

ENDS

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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