It’s a slightly odd message from Labour over the Māori Party as they try and work out how to deal with them.

The truth is they will need them to form a government if they get their own numbers to a point of victory.

There is no way the Greens and Labour alone will come close to crossing the line first.

Small reiteration, in case you missed it a month or so back; none of this matters because the current Government will be re-elected on what I'm calling November 7th, 2026. Election day.

But for argument's sake, the Hipkins comments that they are going to campaign vigorously in Māori seats, with no concern of wiping the Māori Party out, rings awfully hollow, given I watched them campaign vigorously the other day in the Auckland Māori seat and two things happened.

1) No one turned up.

2) Those that did, voted for the Māori Party.

It was the most shockingly inept display of modern campaigning, or lack of it, seen in many a long year.

My guess is what is happening to the Māori Party will not affect the vote for the Māori Party.

Waititi and Co. are clearly liked in their seats, and there is no reason to believe they won't get back.

Further, most of the Labour candidates will be on the list anyway, so why not get two for one?

Which brings us back to this week's so-called announcement: it's a sham.

Talk tough, get a headline, and hope it flies.

The big, big issue for Labour, apart from the fact they are still poisoned by their last stab at power, is the fact their so-called partners are nuts and most of us know it.

Vote for Labour all you want if you can stomach the incompetence. But having done that, stand by for the circus that comes with the Greens and the Māori Party. It's calamitous, with a capital 'C'.

At some point Hipkins will have to face the fact we need some detail. Who's in, who's out, what are the bottom lines? That's where the real rubber hits the road for a voter.

This week's hot air exercise is seen for what it is.

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Mike's Minute: Labour talks tough, but it rings hollow

The Mike Hosking Breakfast