Maoris relishing their new-found importance

The National Party's election comeback after defeat at the last poll is credited as much to its attacks on Maoris as promises of tax cuts.

The Maori Party is asking its people what it should do next at a series of 21 tribal meetings throughout the country.

It is demanding repeal of the foreshore and seabed legislation as a condition of supporting a Labour government, prompting Clark to worry: "I hope that is not a track that people will want to go down."