Maori Party co-leaders keep their ministerial roles but will pick and choose the laws it will back the new National-led Government on.

Prime Minister John Key and Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples have today signed a confidence and supply deal as well as a new “relationship accord”.

The deal requires the Maori Party to support the Key-led Government on confidence and supply but not on any of the laws to be passed in National’s post-election action plan. That means the Maori Party will not have to vote for the partial asset sales plan.

Turia keeps her roles as minister for Whanau Ora, disability issues and associate minister of health. She also gains a new role as associate minister of housing.

Sharples keeps his jobs as minister of Maori affairs and associate roles in corrections and education.

The agreement includes a promise to set up a ministerial committee on poverty.

The committee would “bring a greater focus to and improve co-ordination of government activity aimed at alleviating the effects of poverty in New Zealand”.

The committee would be chaired by deputy Prime Minister Bill English with Turia the deputy chair. Its first of six monthly reports would be released by mid-2012.

Sharples said meeting with members had been “unanimous” that the party should go for the deal.

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