The Maori Party has acknowledged it has a lot of ground to make up if it's to recapture the seats it lost to Labour at last year's general election.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The party's annual meeting is underway at Te Ohaaki Marae in Huntly today.
With six of the seven Maori electorate seats now held by Labour MPs following the last election, party president Naida Glavish said there was a lot of hard work ahead to rebuild support.
The party recorded its worst result at last year's election and now has only two MPs.
Ms Glavish said it had had to reflect and ask some hard questions since the election.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo: RNZ / Demelza Leslie
She said it was now firmly focussed on rebuilding, and the two new co-leaders, Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell, will help boost its support.
She also said the party needed more money in its coffers and more members, and had asked delegates to set up so-called Koha clubs to help raise funds in each electorate.
This year's meeting will include debate about the party's relationship with the Mana Party, Maori representation in next year's local government elections, and candidate selection process.