Harawira on the brink of expulsion
The Maori Party's national council is expected to endorse a disciplinary committee recommendation to expel him today.
Hot Topic
Rich List
Hone Harawira's career as a Maori Party MP is all but over, with the party's national council expected to today endorse a disciplinary committee recommendation to expel him.
Mr Harawira has already been suspended from the party's parliamentary caucus because of his outspoken criticism of its relationship with the government which he says is passing anti-Maori legislation.
Mr Harawira's colleague Te Ururoa Flavell laid a formal complaint and after weeks of delays and numerous hui, the disciplinary committee said yesterday it had to resolve the issue.
"Accordingly, with great sadness and after many hours of deliberation...there did not appear to be any way of resolving the complaint besides cancelling Mr Harawira's membership of the Maori Party," it said.
The national council has to take the final step, and support for Mr Harawira is understood to be coming only from his fiercely loyal electorate committee.
Expulsion will mean he becomes an independent MP, sitting far away from his colleagues at the back of the debating chamber alongside former Labour MP Chris Carter.
Mr Harawira will then have to decide whether he wants to continue as an MP and contest the November 26 general election as an independent -- or form another party.
NZPA
Wed, 23 Feb 2011
Wed, 23 Feb 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Harawira on the brink of expulsion
12550