CANNABIS POLL THREAT TO TURIA

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party is threatening to force a $500,000
election it will almost certainly lose if former MP Tariana Turia does not
commit to legalising cannabis.

Mrs Turia has confirmed she will contest the Te Tai Hauauru seat she
vacated officially yesterday not as an independent, but as co-leader of the
new Maori Party.

Nominations for election to the seat close on June 15. Any by-election,
which could be triggered by ALCP or any voter who is nominated by two
others, will be held on July 10.

Until yesterday Mrs Turia was expected to be returned unchallenged, as all
parties in Parliament ruled out taking her on. Now taxpayers could be
forced to fund a by-election, for what the cannabis party calls a
referendum on cannabis laws - unless Mrs Turia agrees with legalisation.
ALCP president Michael Appleby justified the expense by saying the $500,000
was a drop in the bucket compared with more than $80 million it cost to
enforce cannabis laws.

Though uncomfortable with cannabis smokers being deemed criminals, Mrs
Turia refused to give any assurances about the Maori Party's position on
legalisation because its policies had not been formed.

As for the ALCP's challenge, she said it was "disappointing to make the
decision (about whether to stand) based on one question really".

She resigned her portfolios last month and gave notice she would leave
Labour and Parliament today.

The Maori Party, co-led by academic Pita Sharples, has signed up more than
500 members. It would be registered after a hui in Auckland at the weekend
and before nominations closed, Mrs Turia said.

As a party leader and sole MP, she would be entitled to more staffing
resources than independent MPs, based on the number enrolled in her party.

She, her husband, daughter, her daughter's partner, their two children, a
niece and a nephew have moved from her ministerial residence in Wellington.
Also gone are the trips in limos with stiff-suited ministerial chauffeurs:
Mrs Turia spent yesterday being driven about Wanganui by Maori radical Ken
Mair in his $800 beaten-up runabout.