Harawira sees political future despite troubles

Hone Harawira. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Buoyed by the support of voters in his Tai Tokerau electorate, Hone Harawira sees a future for himself in Parliament in spite of looming disciplinary action against him by his parliamentary colleagues that could see him expelled from the Maori Party.

Mr Harawira's fellow Maori Party MPs have brought a formal complaint against the MP over his latest criticisms of the party's direction and its coalition with National.

The issues were to have been addressed in a hui today, but the Te Tai Tokerau electorate committee has secured an extension from party leadership and will consider the matter next Thursday.

However, according to the party's constitution, having notified the electorate of the complaint against Mr Harawira, it can now order him to appear before its disciplinary and disputes committee at any time. Expulsion or suspension from the party is among the sanctions available to the committee.

In spite of the prospect of being thrown out of the party, Mr Harawira remained defiant yesterday.

"I went through this in 2009 and I'm still there. I'm not making any bold predictions, I will just continue to be the MP that Te Tai Tokerau want and they will be the architect of my future."

He said he was receiving emails from party members from his electorate and from all over the country overwhelmingly supporting his views about the party's direction.

"The opinions that I express are more consistent with the membership of the party than those of some of my colleagues. For that reason I see no reason why I should be leaving the party." That said, he would not rule out becoming an independent MP. "We should never be so forward as to discount any possibility, not just for myself but for other members of the Maori Party."

Meanwhile, although Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples are refusing to comment on the matter, Dr Sharples told Radio NZ yesterday that Mr Harawira might be planning to challenge for the leadership of the party. He said he and Mrs Turia were open to the possibility of contesting the leadership and were confident the party would re-elect them.

Mr Harawira yesterday said he had no aspirations to become party leader "at any time".

"'The measures of compromise, tact and diplomacy required to be the leader of a mainstream political party are not the things I do well. I also think that adopting those attributes would reduce the edge that makes me the MP that I am."

In fact, he said, if Dr Sharples was to resign, he would support Te Ururoa Flavell as co-leader in spite of Mr Flavell initiating the complaint against him.