kopu (and thus mana wahine) closely followed the national party government of jenny shipley. national, having recently ended its coalition with the new zealand first party, was highly interested in finding additional parliamentary support. it is sometimes claimed that national's influence was instrumental in gaining mana wahine official recognition as a party, and many members of the opposition claimed that this help was given in order to secure mana wahine's vote – trevor mallard, a labour party mp, openly called it a "bribe".