LEAD: Maori protestors stop New Zealand premier's speech

Feb 5, 2012, 5:47 GMT

Wellington - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key shrugged off a noisy demonstration by indigenous Maoris angry at plans to sell parts of four state-owned energy companies Sunday, reports said.

Protesters forced Key to abandon a speech at a Maori meeting house during commemorations marking the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between Maori tribes and British settlers.

As a large contingent of police kept the protestors at bay, Key was hustled away to his car.

'At no point did I feel in danger. It was a lost opportunity because I wanted to present the government's perspective on issues that they are debating,' Key said later.

'What we really ended up with was a bunch of people with megaphones that drowned out any chance of a sensible conversation.'

Maoris suspect the government will not include a traditional clause saying the new owners of the partly privatised companies must honour provisions of the treaty.

The three legislators of the Maori Party, who support Key's fragile National Party-led coalition in parliament, warned last week that they could withdraw their backing if the clause is excluded.

Maoris were also angered by last week's announcement that 50 staff of the Ministry of Maori Development would lose their jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Protestors holding signs 'Aotearoa (New Zealand) is not for sale' and shouts of 'Go home National' greeted Key as he arrived with other cabinet ministers.

One protestor heckled Maori legislators, including Minister of Maori Affairs Pita Sharples, for collaborating with the government.

Key met tribal leaders later but reportedly failed to convince them that the treaty would be honoured in legislation allowing the partial privatisation of the energy companies.

'It's a consultation, so we'll see how it pans out,' he said.