Shadow land deal on shadow minister’s record

The choice of Nick Smith as National's Crown-Māori relations spokesperson has Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters scratching his head.

Mr Smith was given the role in a mini-reshuffle yesterday, with party leader Simon Bridges saying it aligned with his shadow state services portfolio.

Mr Peters says the decision can't be based on past performance.

"Because no one will know less about that than Nick Smith. When he was minister of housing desperately trying to prove he had a housing programme, some of the land he came up to Auckland and told the media was designated for housing was Māori land and he hadn't even talked to them. But anyways, nobody is beyond redemption and we will stand back and watch," he says.

On the redemption front Mr Peters is also looking at the return to duty of Jami Lee Ross, whose proxy vote was held by New Zealand First after his bust up with National last year and subsequent short spell in mental health care.

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