David Cunliffe has painted a clearer picture of what a Labour-led Government would look like, and it leaves the Maori Party and Internet Mana without ministerial positions.
The Labour leader says there will be a maximum of three parties in Government should the party take office after September 20 – Labour, the Green Party and New Zealand First.
"We've been really clear that one of the reasons […] is because those three parties have a track record and can give the public certainty and assurance that they are established, well-managed parties," Mr Cunliffe said today.
"We'll talk to others who might want to support that arrangement – what the various permutations are is very hard to predict."
But he said Internet Mana and Maori Party "absolutely won't be ministers".
Asked whether that position would stand even if it meant the difference between governing and being the Opposition for three more years, Mr Cunliffe replied: "I'm pretty sure it won't."
He cannot envisage a situation where the Government would comprise of the Maori Party instead of NZ First, saying a vote for the Maori Party is in essence a vote for National.
The Maori Party has criticised Mr Cunliffe's stance, calling it "panic politics". Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says until now, Mr Cunliffe had been positive about working with his party.
"The Labour Party is clearly being pushed into a corner by Opposition parties and feeling desperate because the latest polls show its unlikely Labour will have the luxury of forming a Government at all."
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia believes it is a "classic Matt McCarten strategy" to use shock tactics to raise the profile of Labour and to appeal to those don't want anything to do with the Maori Party.
"When Labour get into a tight spot they dump Maori," she said.
While Labour had closed the door on them, the Maori Party still had theirs open for potential coalition talks.
"It doesn't matter if it's a red brand or a blue brand. Maori voters clearly want an independent Maori voice in Parliament that can be heard – not one that is subsumed by other parties."
Ms Turia said Mr Cunliffe is ignoring the Maori vote.
"The recent Maori Television polls consistently show Maori voters would prefer us to work with Labour - but 67 percent also support us going with National if they are the dominant player."
NZ First leader Winston Peters is expected to talk about possible coalition arrangements this afternoon.
3 News
source: newshub archive
