Old school ties trumped politics, at least for a day, as Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples swept aside two engagements to farewell Jim Rewi, his old schoolmate from Greytown.
Dr Sharples was scheduled to attend a hui in Auckland one of 40 discussing the possible future of the Maori
Party's coalition in a National-led government.
He was also on his way to the inaugural Takitimu Festival, currently being hosted by his Ngati Kahungunu iwi in Hastings, for which he had written a powhiri.
"It was a big day but I'm missing it so I can go to Jim's funeral," Dr Sharples said.
The two men met as pupils of Te Aute Maori Boys College in the 1950s and Mr Rewi, from a long-established South Wairarapa Maori family, was buried at Papawai Urupa after a funeral ceremony at Carterton's Richmond Chapel.
Mr Rewi, aged 69, died last week and had only recently returned to Carterton from Brisbane but was traditionally regarded as a Greytown man.
Mr Sharples said he believed the Maori Party had reached tacit consensus regarding its approach to coalition with John Key and the newly-elected National government and expected a final decision to be made by Sunday.
"We've set up a structure to work with National on the questions of Maori seats, constitution and of course the foreshore and seabed.
"It's definitely progress in action, these are big issues to us they are the basis of why the Maori Party exists," Dr Sharples said.
He said mutual respect had characterised negotiations between the leadership of the two parties.
"We've been treated very well by National, they've been straight-up and we've been straight and what's not possible has been stated, there's been no fudging around the edges.
"At the end of the day it's these 40 hui that will give the go-ahead on this arrangement with National, or not," Dr Sharples said.
"We've had support from tribal leaders and pakeha. I guess it's a good feeling and I think that reflects our disciplined behaviour as a party in the three years we've been in the house."
