Labour would work with Winston but Greens preferred partner: Willie Jackson

Willie Jackson says Labour could go into a coalition with NZ First. Photo / Mark Mitchell

There would be no referendum on Maori seats under Labour's watch, but that doesn't rule out working with Winston Peters.

Labour's Maori campaign director Willie Jackson told The Nation Labour could "work with Winston", but their first obligation was to the Green Party.

"He's worked well with Labour in the past, everything is negotiable," Jackson said during a discussion between himself and the Greens' Marama Davidson.

"Labour made it clear there will be no referendum under our watch," he said, but that didn't mean Labour could not talk to Peters.

"I don't think he's going to die over on particular thing, he's got a number of bottom lines."

Davidson said their preferred government would consist of Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party, which was her idea of a "truly progressive" government.

She said the Greens had worked with "Uncle Winston" in the past, but "we won't put up with some of his attitudes ... that pull on that populist racism stuff that we need to be actually resisting".

Jackson said working with the Maori Party was something they would consider, but they were not his "dream sort of view".

"Under the Maori party things have never been worse for Maori," he told Patrick Gower.

Davidson said people wanted to be clear what they were voting for, and a vote for the Maori Party was "a vote of chance".

Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said whether his party goes into government with National or Labour after the election depends on who gives them an invitation, and what their supporters have to say.

He would struggle to work with Peters, but can't rule it out because "it's a decision for our people", he said.