New Zealand’s Maori Party struck a deal yesterday to support the new center-right government, but Prime Minister John Key refused to say whether he would honor their demands that he safeguard indigenous rights.
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said party members would soon be consulted to decide whether to accept the deal.
Traditionally, Maori have supported the center-left Labour Party, which lost power in Saturday’s election. Maori account for 15 percent of the country’s 4.3 million people but are among its poorest and least-healthy citizens, suffering higher unemployment and crime rates than others.
Before the election, Key said his party was “diametrically opposed” to the Maori Party on some issues, and he campaigned on a promise to abolish the practice of setting aside seats for indigenous people in the parliament. But he also said he was prepared to strike a deal if it meant taking power.
The Maori Party has said it would demand that it retain the seats. It would also push for the repeal of a law preventing Maori from claiming rights to the foreshore and seabed and seek greater control over government spending on indigenous programs to prevent waste.
Turia said all policy issues were on the table.
“Our membership ... are urging us to go for it to ensure the Maori Party is able to maintain our reputation as the strong and independent Maori voice of parliament, in whatever arrangements can be negotiated,” Turia said.
She also declined to spell out any details of the deal.
Key said Maori Party lawmakers had stressed they would “welcome a relationship” with National “to achieve better outcomes for Maori New Zealanders.”
If a deal is signed, details of policy agreements will be publicly released “and you will see the ... proposals we have,” Key told reporters. “I’m not going to comment on them at this point.”
National won 59 seats in Saturday’s election, leaving it shy of the 63 needed to form a government.
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