The Tangled Web of the Maori Party

The spoon simply wasn't long enough. The Maori party has supped with the Devil, found that it involves being marginalised and taken for granted, but has no-where to go. They weren't consulted about the SOE sale implications for Treaty commitments. As an afterthought, Mr English has now been in touch, but too late. Mana is hammering the MP, MP supporters are fuming at the prospect of the loss of reference to the Treaty, and Mr Key is indicating that he is able quickly and easily bring the MP on side, as one would call a loyal gun dog to order. The MP can't win. Any solution will be a watering down of what MP supporters expect. Walking away will be a signal of the failure of the collaborationist policy. Ms Turia and Mr Sharples are left swinging, and the MP looks even more bedraggled than it did at the election. Meanwhile, Wira Gardiner is busily trying to deliver Maori for National in another tokenistic gesture. It's a mess.