Hone strikes again

NEW ZEALAND: The Maori Party this month threatened to consider pulling out of its support arrangement with the National government over concerns it will not include treaty rights in partial state assets sales.

The Maori Party last year renewed a deal to support the government on confidence votes.

It first helped the Nationals form minority government at the 2008 elections. In exchange, Maori Party co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia were given ministries.

But MP Hone Harawira, who quit the party last year to form his own Mana party, last month stated the Maori Party was doing nothing to stop the government from removing Treaty of Waitangi rights from the state owned Enterprise Act.

The government is looking at changing the laws needed to sell partial stakes in four energy companies.

But Mr Harawira claims the Treaty of Waitangi can prevent the sale of state assets, and that this was instrumental in the government removing treaty protections.

The Maori Party responded by threatening to withdraw support for the Key government if power companies were not put under treaty negotiations.

Prime Minister John Key has responded by stating he has overruled Treasury to leave the treaty clause in the asset-sale legislation.