In a special extended interview, Minister for Māori Development, Broadcasting, and Media Willie Jackson discusses housing, homelessness, Māori broadcasting, and his political future.

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In a special extended interview, Minister for Māori Development, Broadcasting, and Media Willie Jackson discusses housing, homelessness, Māori broadcasting, and his political future.

Labour MP Willie Jackson has described the Kiritapu Allan saga as "maybe the saddest thing I've ever seen".

Jackson, the manager for Labour's campaign to win the Māori seats at this year's election in October, told Mata he was planning to spend Wednesday with the former minister of justice.

"We talk every couple of days, but heartbreaking stuff, you know what I mean?" he told host Mihingarangi Forbes.

"We love Kiritapu, I know I do and my family does. She's a bit of a hero for my daughter, for a lot of young women, you know?"

Allan resigned all her ministerial portfolios in July after being charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer following a car crash in Wellington. She had returned a breath test over the legal limit, but at a level only considered an infringement offence.

The incident capped off a difficult few months for the East Coast MP, following allegations of bullying, a controversial speech made at a farewell party for an RNZ employee she was engaged to, then the split from her fiancé, and taking time away from Parliament on mental health leave.

"I've never seen anything quite like it," Jackson said of the car crash.

"We've never seen a justice minister get into this kind of trouble. But it doesn't take away the fact that she's got huge talent, she's passionate, a wonderful young woman.

Allan remains the MP for East Coast, but will not contest the election in October. Jackson did not believe the charges meant the end of her political career.

"As I kept saying to her, 'You're only 39.' I've lived my life around people who have come back in terms of redemption. Kiritapu can do anything - she's a great entertainer, a lot of fun, she's a strong advocate. She's actually brilliant in that legal area - I've loved working with her in Parliament because she can break down all the intricacies, so well. Some of us do the fronting and all that, but man, can Kiritapu break stuff down. …

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