Hui unlikely to resolve Maori Party problems

Maori Party in-fighting does not look likely to be resolved at a planned hui today, with key party figures not planning to attend.

The hui, to be held at Whakapara Marae, 23km northeast of Whangarei, was set up to consider a complaint against MP Hone Harawira laid by fellow MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

The complaint, which was supported by co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia, as well as MP Rahui Katene, related to comments Mr Harawira made in a newspaper column.

In the Sunday Star-Times column, Mr Harawira said the Maori Party had become too wrapped up in its coalition and put up with policies that harmed Maori.

Today's hui was organised to address the complaint, however, party president Pem Bird told NZPA neither he nor Mr Flavell had been invited and they would not be attending.

Mr Bird said an email he had received from the Te Tai Tokerau electorate committee did not give a specific location or time for the meeting.

"The purpose of the meeting we agreed would be to try and resolve the complaint at the Tai Tokerau level, for that to happen Mr Flavell has to be present," he said.

"It is disappointing because the first step in the process from day one was to inform Tai Tokerau that a complaint had been received and to let them know that this meeting today was important.

"It's been with Tai Tokerau since last Wednesday, the responsibility to act was with them."

Mr Bird he had asked for the electorate committee to report back to him about the outcome of today's meeting.

Speaking on Radio New Zealand this morning, Mr Harawira said he stood by the column.

"I see absolutely no reason to resile from any of the comments that I made," he said.

"I'd like to say that Mr (John) Key's state of the nation address yesterday, where he didn't even mention the Maori Party and didn't mention anything of value for Maori and didn't even mention one cent going to any Maori project to any Maori project anywhere in the country for the rest of the financial year, suggests that my column is very much in line with what Maori people are concerned about in the relationship of the Maori Party with National."