Fletcher, David, 1952- :"Tau Henare is going to break away from my School First gang and start his own gang!" "What's he going to call it?" "Probably 'Me First Class'!" [Truth,1998]

A three-panel strip showing Jenny Shipley and Winston Peters discussing the fact that Peters' gang mate Hen is leaving to start his own gang

Context: In August 1998, the coalition between National and New Zealand First started to become unstable, and internal tensions arose within New Zealand First itself. When Prime Minister Jenny Shipley sacked Peters from Cabinet on 14 August 1998, Peters pulled New Zealand First out of the coalition. However, Henare and several other New Zealand First MPs left the party and offered their support to National, allowing the government to maintain a slim majority. It later emerged that before departing, Henare had mounted an unsuccessful challenge to Peters. After a brief time as an independent, he banded together with four other MPs who had departed New Zealand First and established the Mauri Pacific party with himself as the new party's leader.

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - D. Fletcher

Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s).

Physical Description: Ink, felt pen and watercolour, 120 x 395 mm