The president of the Māori Party will tour the country to try to persuade iwi to formally back the party, which was boosted by an endorsement from the Māori King last weekend.
Māori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan and Mana Party leader Hone Harawira met in July to discuss a potential alliance. Photo: Supplied
Party president Tukuroirangi Morgan, who is also a close adviser to Kiingi Tuheitia, said he now wanted other iwi to get in behind the party.
He told The Hui on TV3 that he was not against working with Labour, but said its current Māori MPs were not effective.
"There is no predetermined outcome. My view is that we will go back to our people, to our constituents and ask their view.
"But we're driven by the fact that you cannot effect change if you're a bystander and you're sitting in the opposition seats."
Nearly 1000 people heard Kiingi Tuheitia deliver his annual speech at Tūrangawaewae marae last weekend, after several days of celebrations at the Ngāruawāhia marae for the 10th anniversary of his coronation.
At the end of his speech, the King said he would not be voting for Labour again.
Māori King Kiingi Tuheitia makes his annual speech at Turangawaewae. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson
He said he had changed his mind about the party after its leadership said it would not work with the Māori Party.
He went on to praise Mana leader Hone Harawira, whom he said represented strength, loyalty and guts.