The leaders of the Maori Party and Mana Party have hailed "historic" talks as they probe a possible agreement to cooperate at next year's election.
Executives of both parties met in Whangarei yesterday.
"This is a significant occasion where we have been able to put aside our differences and focus on what is best for our people and to put the interests of our people first and foremost," Maori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan said.
"We have reached an agreement as part of the first step in developing our relationship that we will continue to work on.
"We consider this day historic in the sense that this is the first time the two executives of our party have come together and that bodes well for our future working relationship."