NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Kahu

It's unity or doom, warns Flavell

Derek Cheng
By Derek Cheng
Senior Writer·NZ Herald·
4 Feb, 2011 04:30 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Maori Party is doomed to failure and extinction if Hone Harawira continues to publicly criticise his own party and caucus MPs.

That is the underlying fear in the complaint made against Mr Harawira by his colleague Te Ururoa Flavell.

He accuses the Te Tai Tokerau MP of being disrespectful,
unethical and misrepresenting the position of the party.

"I have lost trust and confidence in Hone to work as a part of our team, and relationships have disintegrated to the disadvantage of our party," Mr Flavell says in the internal complaint, obtained by 3 News.

"For us to continue in this way is to see the situation worsen and have a huge impact on the long-term future of our party."

The complaint - backed by the co-leaders - was made to the party's National Council following Mr Harawira's column three weeks ago in the Sunday Star-Times, which included a barrage of criticisms of the party and its coalition with the National Party.

Despite a meeting between Mr Flavell and Mr Harawira this week, the complaint remains unresolved and the party's disciplinary committee will meet on Wednesday.

Under the party's constitution, a member can face disciplinary action if they "wilfully bring the party or its members into public disrepute".

Mr Flavell does not say what action he wants the party to take. He only asks the council to consider his complaint.

But he suggests the party's future is bleak if Mr Harawira is free to swipe at the party through the media.

Criticising the party and the leadership is "totally acceptable" but should take place in discussions behind closed doors.

Mr Harawira had acted "without integrity in his statements about myself as a member of our caucus, about the leadership of the party and the party itself".

Mr Flavell dissects Mr Harawira's column into nine points and rebukes each one. In particular he is scathing of attacks on the marine and coastal marine bill, the Government's alternative to the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

"[Mr Harawira] actually shaped the bill, contributed to the discussions, heard the debate, saw the briefing papers, and had direct access to the minister.

"When I questioned him about why he was against it, he raised issues which I suggested he should take to the minister," Mr Flavell said.

"He decided he would not, in fact he stated he had no intention of seeking any answers."

Mr Flavell provides other articles by Mr Harawira where the party's position was misrepresented, and where Mr Harawira had presented himself as correct while "the rest of us have sold out".

Without unity, the party will eventually disintegrate, Mr Flavell said.

Writing on Facebook this week, Mr Harawira claimed "It looks like these dickheads only have expulsion on their mind, if that's their plan then we may need to refocus".

He has said he wants to stay with the party, but is not sure if he will attend Wednesday's meeting.

The friction between Mr Harawira, his local supporters and the rest of the Maori caucus has raised concerns that some anger could be directed at Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples when he walks on to Te Tii Marae at Waitangi this morning - one of Mr Harawira's home marae.

Yesterday, Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi spokesman Sonny Tau said the ructions were becoming more and more ridiculous and should have been resolved internally.

He said it was a distraction in an election year and many wanted the party to focus on getting influential in government, rather than scrapping among themselves.

While Mr Harawira had considerable support from tribal leadership in the north, Mr Tau said most were aware that his current approach could not continue.

"Iwi leaders support him as a good person to do the business but there's got to be systemic change about how that [happens]."

He put the troubles down to male egos, saying the egos all round - excluding Tariana Turia - had probably intensified the situation, he said. "You get enough males in the room they're all the bloody same."

A spokesman for Dr Sharples said he was not concerned about the prospect of protest targeted at him.

Additional reporting Claire Trevett, Yvonne Tahana

Discover more

New Zealand|politics

PM rejects post-election coalition with Peters

02 Feb 04:30 PM
New Zealand|politics

Harawira accuses 'dickheads' of trying to get rid of him

03 Feb 05:57 AM
Kahu

Hone has 'no intention' of leaving

03 Feb 08:34 PM
Opinion

<i>Editorial</i>: Time to finish work begun at Treaty table

04 Feb 04:30 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
Letters to the Editor

Letters: Personal choices blocking climate change measures

03 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
New Zealand

TUT withdraws appeal over unlawful removal of Te Urewera huts

03 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Business|companies

Whānau Ora funds probe: Pasifika Futures’ family ties questioned

03 Jul 05:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
TUT withdraws appeal over unlawful removal of Te Urewera huts

TUT withdraws appeal over unlawful removal of Te Urewera huts

03 Jul 05:00 PM

Te Uru Taumatua has withdrawn its appeal against the High Court ruling.

Premium
Letters: Personal choices blocking climate change measures

Letters: Personal choices blocking climate change measures

03 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Whānau Ora funds probe: Pasifika Futures’ family ties questioned

Whānau Ora funds probe: Pasifika Futures’ family ties questioned

03 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Editorial: Bus drivers face daily fear of assault on the job

Editorial: Bus drivers face daily fear of assault on the job

03 Jul 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP