Harawira's party leaders just as bad, says Labour MP

Shane Jones. Photo / Richard Robinson

Labour MP Shane Jones has attacked the Maori Party for a racially divisive attitude that makes it "the mirror image of Don Brash at Orewa".

Mr Jones said renegade MP Hone Harawira was just reflecting what many senior members in the party believed, particularly co-leader Tariana Turia.

He said many of his fellow Maori in Northland were revolted by Mr Harawira's recent rhetoric about Pakeha, and fearful of the separatist streak within the Maori Party.

He was horrified Mr Harawira promoted a "victimhood culture" among Maori, where the problems of gangs, violence, drugs and child abuse were blamed on history.

"It is saying: 'its not our fault. It all started with Captain Cook and the pigs he let go'."

Mr Jones said the party's separatist beliefs were its "chronic weakness". He singled out Mrs Turia, noting how she had called Pakeha "tau iwi" [strangers], and compared the effect of colonisation on Maori to the Holocaust.

"Just because the fox becomes a bit more sly, it doesn't give up those feral habits."

Mr Jones said Mrs Turia's problems with Mr Harawira were "political utu" for what she did to Helen Clark when leaving the Labour Party.

Mrs Turia had "obviously undergone a recent conversion to lofty ideals like loyalty given what she did to us", he said.

She had "welched out" by not coming to Northland for a meeting to decide Harawira's future. She had acted as if the people of Northland were beneath her.

Mr Jones challenged Mr Harawira to be true to his word and turn up to Parliament this week - although advised him to plan for a career change. Mr Harawira has been given a fortnight to decide his future with the party.

But whether the Caucus allows him to join its meeting tomorrow is the prerogative of its MPs.

It is understood the exclusion of Mr Harawira would happen only if there was support from the wider party.