Without knowing the outcome, English is trying to establish confidence in the process.
In his speech to Ngati Whatua, he talked about the highly disciplined working relationship that the iwi chairs forum has developed with Government and the confidence each has that they can work hard issues through.
Labour however has opened up a fresh front against iwi leadership in its decision to entice urban leader Willie Jackson to its ranks.
Jackson and Labour's motivation is that most iwi have close relationships with its arch enemy, the Maori Party.
We may be long past the days of Winston Peters talking about the "Brown Table" elites - so 1990s.
But what has become clear is that the influence of iwi leaders, especially post- treaty settlement iwi, are becoming a new battleground this election.