Maori and Mana in a tree, …

The Herald reports:

The Maori Party and Mana Movement have made a symbolic joint appearance at the first big political event of the year in Ratana.

Maori Party co-leaders Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox and Mana leader Hone Harawira walked onto the Ratana Pa near Wanganui side-by-side this afternoon.

The two parties are in talks about working together at the general election, possibly by formally merging or by making agreements to step aside in some Maori seats to give the other party a clear run. Labour, who will be welcomed on to the pa tomorrow, holds six of the seven Maori electorates.

There was bad blood between Flavell and Harawira after Harawira left the Maori Party in 2011 in protest at its support agreement with National. That is clearly in the past. Before the two men walked onto the pa grounds at Ratana, Harawira embraced Flavell in a bear-hug in full view of media.

I’d say the chances of an alliance, which at the very least is a do not compete policy, is strong.