Electorate wants Harawira to stick with party
The overwhelming message from Hone Harawira's constituents in Te Tai Tokerau is he should stay with the Maori Party, the MP's electorate committee says.
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Rich List
The overwhelming message from Hone Harawira's constituents in Te Tai Tokerau is he should stay with the Maori Party, the MP's electorate committee says.
Mr Harawira became the subject of a formal complaint by fellow MP Te Ururoa Flavell last month, after writing a column that said the Maori Party had become too caught up in its coalition with National and was supporting anti-Maori policies.
Since the column, he has continued to openly criticise the party, including its ongoing support for National's new seabed and foreshore legislation.
He was suspended from the party's caucus last week, with co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples saying the caucus had no faith or confidence in him.
A disciplinary committee met in Wellington last week to discuss the complaint and adjourned so Mr Harawira could speak with his Tai Tokerau electorate on Friday and Saturday.
In a statement today, electorate chairwoman Lisa McNab said one clear message that had emerged in Mr Harawira's five-branch tour of the area was that 95 percent of people wanted him to stay with the party.
"They also reaffirmed their support for his opposition to the Marine and Coastal Areas Bill, and supported the proposal that Government repeal the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act, and put a two-year moratorium on all foreshore development to enable Maori to develop a better plan," Ms McNab said.
"We had hoped to be able to give our MP a message that we would be ready to meet with the council this Tuesday, but it became clear that there were still a number of other issues that needed to be clarified before a formal response could be communicated to the council from both the electorate and our MP."
In an interview on TVNZ's Marae Investigates yesterday, Mr Harawira also reaffirmed his desire to stay in the party.
"I've yet to see one comment that attacked me for the issues that I raised in that article.....the issues are the important thing, it's not the personalities," he said.
"I know I can provide true Te Tai Tokerau representation whether I'm in the party or outside the party. Being outside the party's not something I'm currently contemplating.
"I'm having difficulties with my colleagues and hopefully we can come to terms with that."
NZPA
Mon, 14 Feb 2011
Mon, 14 Feb 2011
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Electorate wants Harawira to stick with party
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