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The Maori Party is now considering its options after winning four parliamentary seats. Co- leader Dr Pita Sharples, who ousted Labour's John Tamihere for the Tamaki Makaurau seat, says Maori now have a voice in parliament. He says it is a new era of integrity and they will work to ensure the Maori seats remain. The Maori Party won four of the seven Maori seats. On the question of a coalition Dr Sharples says they will wait to see what is on the table and consult the Maori people before deciding what option to take. Dr Sharples convincingly took out the Tamaki Makaurau seat. John Tamihere conceded defeat saying the best team won. In his victory speech Dr Sharples told supporters it is important the party's infrastructure remains and it is not just about getting candidates to parliament. Outspoken activist Hone Harawira is one of the many new faces in the next parliament. He has taken the Te Tai Tokerau seat from Dover Samuels, who remains an MP thanks to his high ranking on the Labour list. Mr Harawira has told Maori Television he wants a common aim for his people. He says excellence will be normal for Maori, and success will be run of the mill. Maori Party members will be asked over the next week which party they want their MPs to negotiate a coalition deal with. Labour has already acknowledged it may need the Maori Party's four seats to form a government, and has requested a meeting tomorrow. Co-leader Tariana Turia says she will meet with her caucus today and then call hui around the country to get a mandate. She says many of the party's supporters have split their vote with Labour. Mrs Turia says she is unsure whether this is a signal towards a preferred partner. The Maori Party is proud of its efforts in its first election campaign. It has wrestled four of the seven Maori seats from Labour, and secured two percent of the overall party vote. Party president Whatarangi Winiata says their eyes were on a clean sweep, but they could not manage to convince their people to ignore Labour's threat that a vote for the Maori Party was a vote for National. He says Maori went to the polls fearful of the alternative that National presented. The Maori Party has three main policies it would like to take to the coalition negotiating table with Labour. Mrs Turia says the party wants the Maori seats to be entrenched, and wants a review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. She says she also wants an investigation into the efficiency of public spending on Maori. Tariana Turia does not expect Labour will like that much.
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