Māori Party president John Tamihere says his former talkback sparring partner Willie Jackson put on a magnificent performance in last week’s Oxford Union debate.

The Labour MP teamed up with American Gary Vikan to successfully argue the British Museum was very British monument to colonisation and oppression.

Mr Tamihere says Mr Jackson may not have grown up with the wealth and privilege associated with Oxford University, but he’s up for a scrap.

“Because he’s probably the second-most disliked Maori in the country apart from me I don’t think he gets the kudos he deserves for where he’s come from. He’s positioned himself very well to the extent no one can walk past him probably as being in the 10 most influential politicians in the country on any day of the week,” he says.

Mr Tamihere also gave credit to the team which prepared Mr Jackson for the debate.