October 13, 2016
Politics right place for king
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox is denying the party had anything to do with a letter from King Tuheitia to iwi whose treaty settlements were delayed by New Zealand First reneging on an agreement to fast-track the final reading.
The letter expressed sympathy for their position and emphasised the importance of settlements for deveopment.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is pointing the finger at the king's close advisor, new Maori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan, and says it's wrong for the Kingitanga to interfered in party politics.
But Ms Fox says it's disrespectful of King tuheitia to say he can be manipulated by the party.
"Tuheitia has every right to express his opinion. People might say he shouldn't be getting into politics but you have to remember the Kingitanga movement was born out of a political struggle, and it is up to the person sitting in the seat at the time to conduct themselves as they think is appropriate," says Marama Fox.
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