October 20, 2014
Maori caucus expects key roles
Labour’s Maori caucus expects some key roles to come to its members from the current leadership contest.
Chair Peeni Henare says the Maori caucus will meet with each of the four candidates over the next two days to discuss their expectations.
The candidates also met the party’s Kaunihera Maori at Ratana Pa over the weekend.
Mr Henare says the entry of Nanaia Mahuta into the race put Maori issues squarely on the agenda.
He says the caucus has been discussing its bottom lines.
" The Maori members would expect that we would be given the opportunities in key roles within the party, leadership aside. So some of those key roles you could imagine are on key select committees. There are key roles around some of the portfolios that will be dispersed around the caucus once the leadeer is chosen " he says.
Peeni Henare says analysis of final voting data that came out on Friday confirms the importance of Maori to Labour’s future electoral prospects.
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