JUDITH COLLINS

Let me say through Dr Shane Reti, who as a man has speaking rights this year at Te Whare Runanga during the politicians’ powhiri, that the National Party has always worked hard on behalf of Maori.

Dr Shane is himself Maori. So is another National Party MP, whose name is neither here nor there. But how many other parties can say they have two Maori MPs? I rest my case.

But I would like to take up my case and point out that the National Party will now stand in Maori electorates. Critics may say the party’s previous position was to abolish the seats, but that’s neither here nor there, a bit like the National Party itself.