The Mana and Maori parties share the same aspirations but their methods of achieving of them are too different for them to form one party, Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell says.
"We are not coming together as a party, but we are talking about how we can work together," Mr Flavell told the Chronicle at Ratana on Tuesday.
The two share aspirations, but have differences about how to achieve them, he said.
The Maori Party has a relationship with National, and has worked with it during the last few terms. Its relationship with Labour is "still to be tested".
There has been speculation that the Maori Party will not stand a candidate for the Te Tai Tokerau Maori seat, giving Mana's Hone Harawira a better chance to win it. In return Mana would not stand a candidate in Mr Flavell's Waiariki seat.