26 Feb 2013

Treaty minister surprised at no front bench opposition

7:47 pm on 26 February 2013

Labour has reshuffled its caucus ahead of the 2014 general election, but its Treaty and Maori affairs spokesperson Parekura Horomia is not part of the top team.

The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, is surprised there is no-one in the shadow cabinet to challenge him.

He says he would have thought that an important area of the nation's work deserves to be covered by someone on the Labour front bench.

Mr Finlayson says Mr Horomia is a good guy and he enjoys working with him, but not to have him in the shadow cabinet - or someone else designated to the role - is "incredible".