In a demonstration of faith and unity, the Labour Party's supporting its Maori seat MPs to stand as electorate MPs only.

'We're confident our outstanding Maori electorate MPs will win their seats,” says Labour leader Andrew Little.

Labour's Maori MPs hold six of the seven Maori seats. And it's backing former television presenter Tamati Coffey to wrest outstanding Waiariki seat from sitting Maori Party co-leader Te Uru Flavell.

He holds Waiariki by a healthy 9700 votes.

'I will continue to stand for a place on the list because I am taking on an incumbent MP,” says Tamati.

'I will stand respectfully against Te Uru Flavell as I give voice to the overwhelming disappointment felt by local Maori over the lack of changes for our people.”

Under Labour Party rules, a waiver can be granted for MPs wanting to be exempted from the party list in special circumstances. '

It's a statement of Labour's intent,” says Labour Party president, Nigel Howarth.

'We back our Maori electorate MPs 100 percent to win their seats which is why the Party agreed to the waiver. They are an excellent group of MPs who have Labour values and Maori aspirations in the forefront of all their work.”

'They have removed their own safety net as a direct response to the failure of the Maori Party to be an independent voice for Maori,” says Tamati.

'There is no independence in a party that has supported 93 percent of National's bills through parliament with little benefit to Waiariki or Maori.”

The waiver comes after blow for blow exchanges between the Labour and Maori parties.

The Maori King, King Tuheita surprised by endorsing the Maori Party candidate Rahui Papa in the Hauraki-Waikato electorate, and in doing so, telling sitting Labour Mp Nanaia Mahuta to step aside.

The president of the Maori Tukoroirangi Morgan has even accused Mahuta of being a traitor and he in turn has been accused by Labour of meddling.

Andrew Little says this week's decision was a direct challenge by the Maori MPs to the Maori Party.

'The Maori Party has failed Maori during the nine years they have been shackled to National. They have neglected their people for too long, thinking that the crumbs that fall off the Cabinet table are all that matters.”

'They have removed their own safety net as a direct response to the failure of the Maori Party being an independent voice for Maori,” says Tamati Coffey.

The Labour leader says if Maori want to see progress on problems they face in housing, health and education, then they should back their Labour candidate.

'We have a plan to turn the position of Maori around and we'll be showing how Maori will be better served by a strong Labour Maori voice around the cabinet table.”

Maori vice-president Tane Phillips says the decision to grant the waiver underlined how important it was for Labour to secure all the Maori seats.

'Our Maori MP's We have a strong team who have worked hard to promote what matters to Maori. They are looking for a mandate so we can really start making a difference for Maori in government.”