She was shafted in the recent reshuffle, tumbling from fourth to twelfth in the cabinet ranking. She even lost her responsibility for Maori development.

But an unfazed Nanaia Mahuta, Labour MP for Hauraki-Waikato, insists: 'It's just numbers.”

She breezed through Tauranga on Friday talking up the man who demoted her, singing the praises of local iwi Nga Potiki and warning of the need to plan for an ageing Maori population.

'I've seen the tide come in and go out, around and around” says the out-of-favour opposition spokesperson for conservation and treaty settlements.

'I am still on the front bench and I want to make a contribution, but the big game is getting a Labour government.”

And she stands by her leader. 'The public is getting a feel for Andrew (Little) – he is what they see. He is straight forward, pragmatic and absolutely focussed on jobs and development.”

She believes Andrew still has work to do – 'no doubt about it,” she says – but thinks Labour is making solid gains.

'Doors are opening and important people are wanting to talk to us.” And she says Andrew is reconnecting with the support bases that have deserted the party in droves over the last eight years.

Mahuta dismisses the polls which show Labour still lagging. ”I wouldn't consider myself to be part of a popularity contest. It's not about charisma or personality, it's about substance.”

A significant concern to the MP is obesity and diabetes amongst Maori. 'That's personal with me because I lost my dad to diabetes.”

Mahuta spent time with iwi Nga Potiki and she believes they are the iwi to watch in Tauranga. 'They are looking at business opportunities now the Treaty settlement is approaching and the educational aspirations for their people.”

'It tells me about the capacity of people to create a plan – a strategy for the development of a people.”

Also of concern to the Labour spokesperson is housing. 'What I am hearing is that there is discrimination in the private rental market.

'It's about who landlords want in their homes. It is certainly an issue.”