Prime Minister John Key is an honourable man who has given New Zealand great service, Dame Tariana Turia says.
"Of course there's significant issues that have happened, but those issues have been around us for years. Poverty didn't happen yesterday. It's been going on ever since we lost our land," she said.
There has been a new twist on poverty though.
"What we have seen in recent years is a poverty of spirit. People are losing heart."
As former Maori Party co-leader Dame Tariana worked closely with Mr Key in Parliament. Their relationship was respectful, trusting, open and honest.