Maori and Mana deal like the 'Maori Kardashians' says Labour MP

Kelvin Davis, left, and Hone Harawira. Photos / File

Labour's Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis says he is not worried the Maori Party and Mana Party might do a deal in his electorate to try to win the seat back, saying they were "the Maori Kardashians".

After preliminary talks in recent weeks, the leadership of the Mana and Maori parties are due to hold further talks about winning seats back from the Labour Party.

That could see a deal between Mana leader Hone Harawira and the Maori Party in Te Tai Tokerau where Davis broke Harawira's nine-year hold on the seat in 2014. He had a slim majority of 743 over Harawira and the Maori Party candidate Te Hira Paenga got 2579 votes.

Davis said it would not make any difference to his approach to the seat because he had always believed he had to work hard to prove he deserved to be the MP. "You have to go out and win the seat again every time. It doesn't belong to me -- I have to go out and earn it again."

The Maori Party needs to hold on to co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell's Waiariki seat to secure a future in Parliament and is also hoping to win back the seats it lost to Labour in 2014 -- Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Hauauru.

Former broadcaster Shane Taurima is a possible candidate for Tamaki Makaurau which was won by Labour's Peeni Henare in 2014. Taurima is now an advisor in Flavell's office. In 2014, Taurima put his name forward to stand for Labour in 2014 but was ruled out after an investigation into his use of TVNZ resources for Labour party purposes. He did not want to comment on speculation he would stand for the Maori Party in 2017.

Henare won with a majority of 1462 over the Maori Party's Rangi McLean. The Mana Party candidate got 2624 votes.

Davis said the relationship between Mana and the Maori Party was akin to the "Maori Kardashians" it was so dysfunctional. "They will be scared to death of Hone because of the havoc he's capable of wreaking. This will be the last hurrah for the Maori Party if Hone gets back with them."

Harawira split with the Maori Party in 2009 and has criticised it for working with the National Party since then. Davis said he would have no problem with the Maori Party in a governing arrangement with the Labour Party, but that was leader Andrew Little's call to make.