NEW ZEALAND HERALD: After the November 8 election the Maori Party's priority will be to get the best deal possible on health, welfare and education spending, co-leader Pita Sharples says.
The Maori Party could be crucial in deciding whether National or Labour form the next government.
Speaking on TVNZ 7's Leaders interview programme yesterday, Dr Sharples said that after the election the party would be able to complete consultations with its membership within three days.
He said they were looking to work with a "Treaty partner" who recognised the place of the Treaty and Maori's status as tangata whenua.
Both Labour and National "did not have a clue" about the Treaty and paid it lip service.
Dr Sharples said repeal of the foreshore and seabed legislation, entrenchment of the Treaty and the Maori electorate seats would always be issues the party would fight for.
But he refused to describe them as bottom lines.
The Maori Party did not necessarily want ministerial roles inside a formal coalition because the party could end up being "drowned", without power or freedom to speak.
It could be possible that his MPs would sit in the neutral cross benches for another term.
Dr Sharples said he was keen to unbundle funding that was not being well spent from departments and make sure it went towards closing the gaps between Maori and other New Zealanders.
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