It was 1988 when, for a mercifully short period of time, I was employed by Geoffrey Palmer. I was sent to represent Geoffrey Palmer because of blistering attacks coming from the National Party against the Lange Labour Government's Treaty policy. In that meeting was Koro Wētere, Roger Douglas, Mr Prebble, and Mike Moore, and there was fear that attacks from the Opposition Māori affairs spokesman were starting to lacerate the ranks of the front bench of the Labour Party. Mike Moore said, "This guy Peters is making traction." Richard Prebble said, "He must be stopped. How do we slow these things down?" Douglas said, "How much will it cost?" Koro Wētere said, "It's time to eat." That was an introduction for a 28-year-old working at the highest levels—along with Hekia Parata—of what passes for the Cabinet-style Government dealing with, in the 1980s, Treaty of Waitangi issues. 