Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says she is heartened by a poll showing gains for the party.

A Marae Digipoll over the weekend showed the Maori Party ahead in five of the seven Maori seats.

Labour is dismissing the results on the basis its samples are too small, but Turia says the finding is in line with its own research.

She says she accepts the poll is only indicative, but it fits with some of the polling they have carried out particularly in John Tamihere's electorate of Tamaki Makaurau.

Turia says she expects both National and Labour would do a coalition deal with the Maori Party to stay in power.