The Maori Party's relationship with the Government is alive and well, says co-leader Pita Sharples.
"Maori should not be worried," he said on Monday night.
"Maori put me there and said go into coalition, and we're in it.
"Our people have got to be really happy with where we are ... look what Maori have got out of this government."
Sharples was appearing on Maori TV's new show NewsBites, presented by Willie Jackson.
He again denied the Hone Harawira row had damaged the party and said it had made it stronger because of the way it dealt with the problem.
Asked by Jackson whether National was the right party for Maori to be in a relationship with, Sharples replied: "Of course it is.
No one else would repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act - the prime minister has said it's going to be repealed."
When Jackson suggested the Government had "cut the Maori Party's throat" over reserved Maori seats on Auckland's new city council, Sharples said Prime Minister John Key had to consider the support agreement with ACT.
"He had a choice - the coalition deal with Rodney (Hide) or not, he had to look seriously at that."
