Mr English says the negotiations around the 620,000 sq km sanctuary are also about the stability of the Government. Legislation to establish the reserve has been delayed because the Maori Party has threatened to withdraw its support for the National-led administration of Prime Minister John Key.
Labour has been put in a difficult position and is being accused of treachery by environmental non-government organisations.
Forest and Bird says the Labour Party has championed the creation of a Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary at the last two elections but it now seems to be saying its own policy is a breach of fisheries rights and fisheries settlement.
Labour says it supports the creation of the Kermadec Sanctuary but it needs to occur in partnership with Maori, not by arbitrarily extinguishing Treaty rights.
There will be tensions within the Green movement about supporting a marine sanctuary at the expense of Treaty rights.
The environmentalists are also turning their considerable firepower on the Maori fisheries body Te Ohu Kaimoana, saying it has a weak case to take to court.
Te Ohu Kaimoana will now hold off on legal action on the sanctuary while the Maori Party and the Government try to resolve the impasse.
In May, a Colmar Brunton poll released by WWF-New Zealand showed 89% of respondents wanted to see the proposed sanctuary become a reality.
The poll found 86% of Maori supported the sanctuary being created. The islands and surrounding oceans are one of the most special and pristine marine environments in the world with globally recognised biodiversity.
The issue comes back to a politically-charged atmosphere between Labour and the Maori Party as both compete for the important votes in the Maori electorates.
The Green Party needs to support Labour's stance because of the memorandum of understanding the two parties signed earlier.
Recently, the Maori King Tuheitia Paki said he would no longer support Labour, throwing his lot in with the Maori Party, the president of which, Tuku Morgan, is his key adviser.
Mr English says the Government is well aware the Maori Party does not represent all Maori. However, it does represent important votes to the Government and the party takes its issues seriously.
Mr Key has said the Government wants to ensure there's no ongoing concern about the stability of the relationship.
The Maori Party wants to hold all Maori seats after the general election next year, something Labour dismisses as an unrealistic goal.
But Labour will be well aware of the cost of its foray into the Foreshore and Seabed Act which saw mass protests by Maori and Dame Tariana Turia leaving Labour to form the Maori Party.
Mr English will have two goals for the negotiations with the Maori Party. First, he will want to see the Kermadec marine reserve established as it is a popular cause with voters.
Secondly, he will want to give some mana to the Maori Party in a careful boost to its political fortunes against Labour.
Let it be remembered, National is progressing Treaty settlements faster than any previous government and, if not for a piece of New Zealand First grandstanding, a further five Bills would have been signed into law tomorrow.
Maori fishing rights in the Kermadecs have not been taken advantage of for many years and Te Ohu Kaimoana's campaign to stop the establishment of the marine reserve is nothing more than a distraction.
The Maori Party is walking a fine line in calling the Government to account, risking alienating a wide part of the electorate who simply cannot grasp the need to redress past injustices.
The rewards will only be seen at the ballot box. In the meantime, New Zealanders are left to ponder the vagaries of political posturing over a marine reserve.
