Labour ready to do deal with Te Pati Maori

The Herald reports:

Labour MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel is suggesting her party will work with Te Pāti Māori “when they sort their issues out”.

It follows Labour’s Māori caucus co-chairman Willie Jackson telling a Waitangi Day festival crowd his party will “work with the Greens, the Māori Party, whoever” to oust the coalition Government.

It is very simple. They will do a deal because they must do a deal. They are just trying to hide it.

There have been 88 public polls since the last election. In all 88 polls, Labour needs Te Pati Maori to have any chance of forming a Government. Not a single poll shows Labour can do it with just the Greens.

The only question is whether Labour (if they win) will do a coalition with Te Pati Maori, or have a confidence and supply agreement (which makes TPM more unpredictable).