Prime Minister John Key has praised Maori Party co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia for their work as government ministers.
Mr Key told Nine to Noon that what the Maori Party decides to do with Hone Harawira MP is for the Maori Partry caucus to deal with, but not for him to say.
Mr Harawira has been critical about the party's support for National in a newspaper article, called "Crunch Time for Maori Grumbles".
But Mr Key said Mr Sharples and Mrs Turia showed courage to choose to work with the National Party as ministers and have achieved a lot for their people.
He said it was not unusual for someone in a political party that has a confidence and supply agreement with the Government, to be opposed to the Government's goals.
