The Maori Party which initially had high hopes of making a clean sweep of the seven Maori electorates, is now finding the contest much tougher, as Labour backed by trade union activists pushes back against inroads into a traditional base. Polling in the electorates (admittedly with relatively small samples) has shown a swing back to Labour, with Parekura Horomia edging ahead of Derek Fox, and Nanaia Mahuta also fractionally gaining the upper hand against Angela Greensill. Mahara Okeroa in Te Tai Tonga is breathing reasonably comfortably.

Maori Party concern it might be losing ground appeared to lie behind co-leader Pita Sharples’ call this week for a $500 grant to people on the poverty line. Some analysts have noted the assumption by the party’s president Professor Whatarangi Winiata the Maori Party should be treated as the “partner” in the Treaty of Waitangi context has offended some of the more powerful Iwi, who regard themselves as the proper Treaty of Waitangi partner and see risks on ceding this role to a political party. If in fact the Maori Party is cast by voters in a king-making role by Saturday’s poll, the country may be confronted sooner than it expected with deciding what is the appropriate role and location of the Treaty of Waitangi in modern NZ.

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