January 13, 2017
Choice for Mahuta in treaty role
Labour Party leader Andrew Little says Nanaia Mahuta could have to choose between a cabinet position and negotiating her tribe’s treaty settlement if Labour is in a position to form a government after this year’s election.
The Hauraki Waikato MP has been appointed to lead Ngati Maniapoto’s negotiating team.
Mr little says as a consequence she is relinquishing her role as Labour spokesperson on Treaty of Waitangi issues, but there is no conflict of interest with her being an MP.
However, it would be a problem if she was a cabinet minister and be in effect negotiating with herself as a representative of the crown.
He says the role reflects Ms Mahuta’s mana, her standing and her leadership in the Maniapoto community.
He would like her to be in the next Labour-led cabinet if that is the election result, but she has several months to be part of the nitty gritty of claim negotiation.
Mr Little will announce soon whether he will contest a seat in the election, but says he has found being a list MP has allowed him considerable flexibility to act in the interests of the whole party.
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