KEY POINTS:
New National leader John Key's desire for constructive relations with other parties has been cautiously welcomed by his political rivals.
However, any entente between National and the Maori Party may be soured by an open letter by Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira celebrating the downfall of former National leader Don Brash.
Dr Brash's policies on race relations and Treaty of Waitangi settlements angered many Maori, and Mr Harawira's letter to Dr Brash has fully vented those emotions.
Mr Harawira accused Dr Brash of trying to "ride a wave of racism" and said history would remember him as someone who tried to destroy Maori and lost.
"I've been told not to be nasty in what I say about your political demise but that doesn't mean I can't be happy about it," the letter said. "You probably don't know what ka kite means Don, so hasta la vista baby."
Yesterday Mr Key extended the hand of friendship to his rivals. "I have witnessed some of the lessons of MMP and I have learned," Mr Key said.
"I will be reaching out to develop and maintain durable relationships with all political parties."
Prime Minister Helen Clark congratulated Mr Key and said it was possible Labour and National could work together if he carried through on his promise to be constructive.
"There are certainly issues around which I think there could be more bipartisanship on, and we would be happy to explore those with Mr Key."
Act leader Rodney Hide said he was sure he and Mr Key could work together. "It's the nature of MMP that political parties have to work together right across the spectrum."
NZ First leader Winston Peters said there was now hope that National had embraced MMP and learned how to work with other parties.
United Future leader Peter Dunne congratulated Mr Key and said he looked forward to working with National.
Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said her party was open to cross-party co-operation.
