In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson parses the co-governance rhetoric of the past few weeks.

Co-governance, co-management, devolution: how political parties approach power-sharing with Māori has already become a central topic this year.

It's an important conversation - with a fundamental question at its core: is the current way of doing things delivering the best possible outcomes for all New Zealanders? You don't have to look far to see proof to the contrary.

As 2023 gears up towards the election, the debate seems destined to intensify - and it could again be Māori caught in the rhetorical crossfire.

Listen to the full podcast

The year began in dramatic fashion with the resignation of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the rapid installation of her replacement Chris Hipkins.

Rātana in late January is typically considered the start of the political calendar, but with the transition from Ardern already under way it marked her last official outing as prime minister, and Hipkins' first real test as successor - a symbolic handover of power.

Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins at Rātana.

Waitangi events about a week later are always a time for scrutiny of politicians. Those welcomed to Te Whare Rūnanga had been encouraged to keep the kōrero constructive and avoid politicising things.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said there was a lesson in that for the other parties present.

"I think those that chose not to respect that have to go back home and talk to themselves ... I think it was a good reminder for the Crown to honour Te Tiriti and where else best to do it than here?"

But politics always seem to come into consideration at Waitangi somehow.

Hipkins had already been challenged at the Iwi Chairs Forum over how his government would handle issues like co-governance. Opposition leader Christopher Luxon had been grilling Labour over the issue for months, saying they had failed to explain co-governance measures to the public.

Chris Luxon and Shane Reti at Waitangi.

Hipkins admitted the government could have done better, and would be working to in future. He said the word could mean different things in different contexts: there were examples of co-management in various Treaty settlements, for example, many of them negotiated under National.

Luxon says National does not support co-governance in public services specifically, and would instead pursue a kind of devolution.

"The point for me is the means by which we deliver those outcomes is a coherent public service system with massive innovation within it, delivering through community organisations," he told RNZ. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details