Marking a historic day for the Maori Party, co-leader Pita Sharples has been sworn in as Maori Affairs Minister.
Sharples claimed he wasn't nervous but he said he was excited for Maori.
"This is our people's day. They put us in the parliament - the Maori Party - and we've taken the next step, we've got some ministerials. It's good."
The post is a massive political step for the party and the days of being on the political fringe are gone.
"We've got good portfolios and we've got strong ambitions and a good work ethic...we can't wait to get into it," says Sharples who is now Prime Minister John Key's point man on Maori affairs.
"It's more a feeling of yeh, we've made another stake in the ground for Maori people.
Taking his oath of office in his native tongue, Pita Russell Sharples - the man who pioneered the kohanga reo and kura kaupapa movements - assumed responsibility for all things Maori.
Sharples and co-leader Tariana Turia (Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector) now have one foot in Key's National camp but the duty he says will always be to Maori and New Zealand.
"We're anxious to make some gains, some hits for Maori - and we will," Sharples says.
