Maoris threaten to pull out of New Zealand government

Jan 31, 2012, 2:35 GMT

Wellington - The Maori Party threatened Tuesday to withdraw support from New Zealand's centre-right government, a move that would leave Prime Minister John Key with a fragile one-seat majority in parliament.

Key's conservative National Party won the support of the Maori Party's three legislators on critical votes of confidence and money supply after November's general election left it with 59 votes in the 121-seat House of Representatives.

Key's majority was shored up by guarantees of support from two other legislators, giving his government 64 votes in parliament, but a Maori withdrawal would reduce that to 61.

The dispute stems from the government's determination to sell all but 51 per cent of four state-owned energy companies to reduce the country's heavy overseas debt.

The government has floated the idea of excluding a standard clause insisting that it 'must not act in a manner inconsistent with the principles' of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The 1840 treaty guaranteed Maori chiefs' rights in return for accepting British rule. It is seen as the nation's founding document.

'If it comes down to the wire, the Maori Party will have to consider its position with the government,' party co-leader Tariana Turia said.

She said removal of the clause would deny the treaty's existence.

Turia warned the issue would cause tensions at Monday's annual commemoration of the treaty's signing, which has frequently attracted demonstrations against the mistreatment of indigenous people.