Labour needs to hold its nerve and keep open any option that beats this terrible Government without needing Winston

Labour leader Chris Hipkins quells claims of internal disagreement over Te Pāti Māori

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is dampening down claims of internal disagreement over working with Te Pāti Māori, with his own MPs’ comments adding confusion.

Hipkins has repeatedly refused to rule either in or out whether Labour would consider forming a government with Te Pāti Māori – which in November ousted two of its own MPs – saying it needed to show it could work together before working with others.

That’s despite no poll this term showing Labour could form a government without Te Pāti Māori’s support.

“I’m absolutely confident in the conversations I’ve had with all of our MPs that we’re all on the same page around setting that out closer to the election,” he said on Tuesday.

However, Labour’s Māori campaign chair Willie Jackson indicated the gulf between the parties was more to do with policy.

“Look, they’ve got a number of extreme views. The prison view’s an extreme view,” he said, when asked what would need to change before the parties could work together.

RNZ

Now Winston is race baiting with a referendum on dismantling the Māori Electorates, Labour needs to hold its nerve and keep open any option that beats this terrible Government without needing Winston and that means leaving te door open to whatever remains of te Pati Māori after the election.

‘The voters will decide’, needs to be Labour’s position especially when the election could be decided by who ever gains the MMP overhang.

Labour needs friends, closing option off dooms them to a NZF/Green/Labour Government where Winston will demand Prime Minister for 18 months.