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Labour leader David Cunliffe is promising a new focus on Maori aspirations as the party heads into the next election.
At its conference in Christchurch this weekend, delegates elected Hauraki Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta as the new Maori vice-president.
They also gave the party’s kaunihera Maori the right to rank Maori candidates before they are submitted to the list committee.
Mr Cunliffe says while in the past Labour has asserted that its policies will help all New Zealanders, including Maori, under his watch he is prepared to go further.
"There should be some things that are special for Maori in our portfolio in our manifesto, that they can look to and yes, there is a tangible down payment on our treaty partnership from Labour. And I really reject the idea that, well I understand that some people felt once upon a time maybe Labour lost the mantle of Maori aspiration that went beyond those basic services. Well, we have got it back" he says.
Mr Cunliffe says he won’t be put off by redneck reaction, such as the uproar that stymied the previous Labour government’s closing the gaps initiatives.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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