Fight when you can win.

This is a very good post from Audrey Young on this issue.

"Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia mentioned on TV One on Sunday that co-leader Pita Sharples was thinking of leading a small delegation to meet Commodore Frank Bainimarama - Fiji's ruler since the December 2006 coup - along with Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Hehuheu and King Tuheitia."

"Turia acknowledged on Sunday it would require the approval of the PM (he gets to approve all overseas travel including private trips).
On Sunday Key responded quickly saying a visit by Sharples would be okay so long as it was in a private capacity as Maori Party co-leader and not as a minister representing the Government.

On Monday he had had a change of heart. He said he had talked to Sharples, that he had agreed New Zealand had to have one voice on the issue of Fiji and that he did not believe Sharples would be going to Fiji.

On Tuesday, it became very untidy: Sharples said he might still go and Key said he would stop Sharples from going if he went ahead."

The Maori Party and National have prided themselves on their relationship, promoting it as a partnership. Now it looks as though Key can tell the Maori Party what to do and that is the opposite of mana-enhancing.

Scotty Morrison on Te Karere last night said it all: "Will you bow to the wish of John Key?" he asked MP Hone Harawira. "We will go if we want to," Harawira replied."

The maori party has the mana. Let it go, save the big fight for another day, a day when you can win the battle.