Another high-profile MP could face losing her seat in the 2017 general election.
Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox could be collateral damage if a deal is struck with Hone Harawira's Mana Movement.
One of Parliament's strongest performing MPs, Ms Fox is admitting her days may be numbered.
"I think you have to be some sort of a ning-nong not to have worked that out the day after the 2014 election," she told reporters in Parliament on Tuesday.
Here's the conundrum - in 2014 the Māori Party got 1.3 percent of the party vote, which entitled it to two MPs.
Te Ururoa Flavell won his electorate and Ms Fox came in off the list, which means if it wins just one more electorate seat this time around, Ms Fox is gone.
"If I can't win my own seat with my own people, then I don't deserve to be here," she said.
And under new president, Tukurorangi Morgan, the Māori Party is really firing up the electorates.
A deal is in the making with Mr Harawira and other high-profile candidates. Newshub can reveal musician Moana Maniapoto is lining up for Auckland seat Tāmaki Makaurau, against broadcasters Willie Jackson and Shane Taurima.
Former league star Howie Tamati has been confirmed to run the Te Tai Hauāuru seat.
Just one of them winning means Ms Fox would have to win her seat in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, which she lost by a landslide last time.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei is also getting in on the action, standing in the South Island seat Te Tai Tonga - held by Labour's Rino Tirakatene - calling into the question the marriage of convenience between Labour and Greens.
The contests for the seven Māori seats are well and truly underway, and there's a reason for that; in a tight election, those seven seats will be crucial to forming the next Government.
Newshub.
