Maori Party Ministers

National and the Maori Party have negotiated an agreement that seems to have two Maori Party MPs become Ministers outside Cabinet. The Maori Party are consulting on this over the next few days.

Somewhat ironic that in 2005 Helen Clark declared the Maori Party the “last cab off the rank” and refused to even try and negotiate a deal with them, even though she could have done a Greens-Maori deal instead of a NZ First-United Future one.

And in 2008, John Key hails the Maori Party cab even though he doesn’t even need a lift. National could govern without the Maori Party, but has chosen to co-operate with them. This bodes well for the future.