The government is likely to shelve its work on co-governance.

It's part of this country's response on how to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or UNDRIP.

The issue has been intensely politicised, particularly by the National and ACT parties, despite the fact they were in power when New Zealand signed the UNDRIP in 2010 and committing to a declaration plan in 2014. 

The Māori development minister Willie Jackson told Newsroom the earlier drafts of the declaration plan would not have got through cabinet, and while work's being done on a new draft -- it could all be put off for the election year. 

Auckland University political scientist Dr Lara Greaves - Ngāti Kuri, Ngāpuhi - spoke to Māni Dunlop.