Labour leader David Cunliffe is adamant the Māori Party will not be at the Cabinet table or inside a Labour-led Government despite Māori Television Reid Research Poll results showing the majority of voters in 6 of the 7 Māori electorates would prefer the parties work together.
Cunliffe told Te Kāea today that he is still willing to talk to, "all parties after the public have their say and I have never said we won't talk with the Māori Party, but I have said there will only be three parties inside the Cabinet inside the Government, that will be Labour, the Greens and NZ First."
Poll results revealed over the last few weeks on the Native Affairs-Kōwhiri 14 Māori electorate debate specials show over 60% of voters in Te Tai Tonga, Tai Hauāuru, Waiariki, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Tāmaki Makaurau and Hauraki-Waikato would prefer to see the Māori Party form a coalition with Labour, if the Māori Party held the balance of power.
When asked if the poll results had any impact on his decision Cunliffe told Te Kāea, "No, because the truth of it is that the Māori Party has been propping up the National Government, of course the Māori Party would like people to think they can have the best of two ways, but that's not true."
Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says the Māori Party’s doors will always be open to either National or Labour after the election.
On Monday at 8:30pm on Māori Television, the final Native Affairs Māori electorate debate will take place between the candidates vying for the vote in Te Tai Tokerau.