Hone has 'no intention' of leaving

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Hone Harawira says he has no intention of leaving the Maori Party, despite saying some "dickheads" within it were trying to expel him.

"It looks like these dickheads only have expulsion on their mind, if that's their plan then we may need to refocus," he said on his Facebook page yesterday.

The tension within the Maori Party stems from a complaint laid by party whip Te Ururoa Flavell following an article in a Sunday paper written by Mr Harawira criticising the party.

The Facebook post came after a meeting called by his electorate to resolve the issue yesterday was called off at the last minute, although Mr Flavell said he never committed to being at the Auckland hui.

The party's disciplinary committee is due to meet on February 9 to discuss the Mr Flavell's complaint.

Mr Harawira told TVNZ's Breakfast this morning there is a "huge frustration within Te Tai Tokerau".

"On the day of the meeting, just yesterday, kaumatua and kuia from all over the North were all on the road before we found out it was cancelled. So the comment was one coming out of extreme frustration."

"There is not good communication [in the Maori Party] but also a breakdown in kaupapa Maori."

Mr Harawira said he no intention of leaving the party or challenging the party's leadership.

"I think at the end of the day, if we are able to refocus on the issues of the moment: unemployment, health, education, welfare, housing, and reconnect with our people anything is repairable.

"I think there is always a future with the Maori Party in that the Maori Party represents Maori people who are a positive, vibrant and diverse community."

Mr Harawira said he was "not sure" with the party's leaders want him to remain in the party.

"At the end of the day, the party is more than three or four people - we have a party of 25,000 people."

Mr Harawira said a joining a new left-wing party was "certainly not on my radar at this stage", but "you never say never in this world".

Titiwhai Harawira, Hone's mother and Nga Puhi kuia, accused the Maori Party's leaders of trying to get rid of Mr Harawira.

"What is the complaint about first and foremost - nothing," she told Radio New Zealand. "The game they are playing is the game Labour played against (former MP) Matt (Matiu) Rata before he left."

Ms Harawira would not comment on whether there should be a change of leadership or whether her son should take the reins of the party.

"I think that is entirely up to Maori at the moment. My advise to them (Mr Sharples and Ms Turia) is learn to lead Maori properly."

Ms Harawira said there would not be any demonstrations in support of Mr Harawira or against the Maori Party leaders at Waitangi celebrations this weekend, but believed Ms Turia hoped their would be a disturbance so as to give her a reason to criticise Mr Harawira.

"It's never going to happen - we're not that stupid, not that blind that we can't see this is a political smoke screen while they go on with selling the family silver."