Maori party co-leader John Tamihere says Maori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s ambitions for Maori procurement fall short of what is needed.
Ms Mahuta has pointed to the Australian scheme were the government allocates 3 percent of its contracts to indigenous organisations or businesses.
She says in Aotearoa that figure could be 16 percent of government’s $42 billion spend, to match the Maori population.
Mr Tamihere says the Maori Party wants 25 percent of government contracts led by Maori.
“You’ve got to stand your ground for your people. you can;t take crumbs off the table when you are in the government and can take a full cut of the cake,” he says.
John Tamihere says electing Maori Party candidates will make Labour’s Maori MPs stronger.
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