The Maori Party's latest list candidate, Tame Iti, says he is willing to sit at the table with any political party if it means it gains mana motuhake for Maori.
Tuhoe stalwart and Maori Party list candidate Tame Iti Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
The Tuhoe stalwart said he was standing because of the Party's focus on issues important to whanau, hapu, and iwi
This month, Ngai Tuhoe has received two historic apologies from the Crown, one for the way the 2007 Te Urewera Raids were carried out.
In the other, the Treaty Negotiations Minister formally acknowledged not honouring its treaty obligations, including the brutal confiscation of land and wrongful killings.
Tame Iti said now he wanted to look to the future for Tuhoe and said he supported its working with the Government to bring about change.
He said he did not have to get in bed with the National government, but said Maori should be able to sit at the table and have eye-to-eye contact with them.
Mr Iti said he was willing to work with any organisation that will help tangata whenua gain the right of mana motuhake in their own areas.