Harawira's future with Maori Party uncertain
Hone Harawira's future with the Maori Party was uncertain lat night and there was no confirmation he would attend a meeting today with its disciplinary committee.
Hot Topic
Rich List
Hone Harawira's future with the Maori Party was uncertain lat night and there was no confirmation he would attend a meeting today with its disciplinary committee.
The committee called Mr Harawira and fellow MP Te Ururoa Flavell to the meeting at Rotorua's Taheke Marae, hoping they can resolve the complaint laid by Mr Flavell over a newspaper column in which Mr Harawira said the party was too wrapped up with National and was supporting anti-Maori policies.
A hui held in Mr Harawira's Te Tai Tokerau electorate last week was supposed to resolve the complaint, but neither Mr Flavell nor party president Pem Bird were invited and it turned into a support rally for the MP.
The party's national council referred the complaint to the disciplinary committee, which has scheduled a meeting for February 9.
But it is hoping a talk between the two MPs tomorrow can resolve the issue.
"They have not had a chance for a face-to-face... we've got the hearing on the 9th, this is a final opportunity for that," Mr Bird told NZPA earlier today.
He said Mr Flavell had been "the forgotten man" throughout the process so far.
"He's the critical person in this and was never invited to the hui," Mr Bird said.
"People have passed judgment on it without the people directly involved with the complaint."
The uncertainty surrounding Mr Harawira's future has heightened speculation that he could be the catalyst for the formation of a new left-wing political party.
Former Green Party MP Sue Bradford has confirmed she has talked to several left-wing activists -- although not directly to Mr Harawira -- about the possibility of a new party being formed.
Mr Harawira would be a crucial element of it, because he has strong support in Te Tai Tokerau and would very likely win the seat at this year's election, either standing as an independent or as the leader of a new party.
That would mean a new party would not have to gain 5 percent of the party vote to have MPs in Parliament.
Late last night neither Mr Harawira nor Mr Bird were answering NZPA's calls.
NZPA
Tue, 01 Feb 2011
Tue, 01 Feb 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Harawira's future with Maori Party uncertain
11964