Turia to stay as Maori Party co-leader 

Source: ONE NewsMaori Party co-leader Tariana Turia

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The Maori Party plans to have 18 seats in Parliament by 2017, which will include all the Maori seats, its president told a group of Maori Party supporters.

About 200 leaders and supporters attended the Maori Party's annual general meeting at Te Mahurehure Marae in Point Chevalier, Auckland, on Saturday.

Leaders, members and MPs discussed the party's role in parliament to date and its future plans.

Maori Party president Professor Whatarangi Winata says the party has been active in parliament to date and has delivered 180 speeches since the beginning of the term.

The party also firmed up its leadership at the meeting, with co-leader Tariana Turia saying she will continue to lead the party, despite saying she would quit to spend more time with her family earlier.

"I had to talk George (Turia's husband) into coming to Wellington and the kids and see how it worked out first, and it's worked out really well. The kids have settled into school really well...and I'm going to do things about my health that will help me to stay on for another five years," Turia says.

It has been 336 days since the Maori Party became a power broker with National and this week has been tense, especially over Maori TV's bid for the Rugby World Cup broadcasting rights.

"I think I was disappointed at the whole way in which the issue was handled& it didn't appear to me too inclusive," says Turia.

But she says she is otherwise pleased with how the Maori Party is working with National, and expects the party to be able to see out its term with Prime Minister John Key.

"We do have a respectful relationship (but) we don't have to agree with one another," Turia says.

"The most important thing is the Maori Party is sitting at the same table as whoever is in government."

The party also wants to increase its membership to have more influence in legislation, but Turia says for this to be done, more people need to cough up more funds, particularly those who are well heeled.

The co-leaders also discussed the climate change and the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), and while Turia says she is personally opposed to the ETS, because it will affect forestry, fishing and farming, three areas essential to the Maori economy, the Maori Party supports the bill.

"We have to play a balancing act because fishing, forestry and farming are the economic areas for Maori," says Turia.

It is a balancing act that will continue as it navigates its alliance with National.

Guyon Espiner will be talking to Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia on Q+A this Sunday about her party's conference this weekend, the Rugby World Cup free-to-air television broadcast bid, the party's progress in its first year in government and the state of its relationship with National. Q+A screens at 9.00am on TV ONE.