Maori Party leadership called 'square buggers'

By RUTH BERRY

Hone Harawira has lashed out at the Maori Party leadership, calling them "square buggers" who are risking the party's future by trying to be as conservative as other political parties.

The first public display of tension within the so far tightly knit party follows a leadership decision to ask the Tai Tokerau branch to delay candidate nomination plans.

Mr Harawira, who has been a party regional co-ordinator, is a keen contender for the candidacy and the branch had advertised for nominations to be in last Friday, before the delay was called for.

No new date has now been set, and Mr Harawira believes the party needs candidate campaigning on the ground now.

He told Radio Waatea last Friday: "All of the square buggers in the leadership have decided to put the brakes on everything because they have got some clever bloody strategy I suppose, of which I'm buggered if I know because they certainly aren't telling anybody.

"Quite frankly it's pissing me off.

"They are trying too hard in my view to prove that we can be as dull and lifeless and conservative and as boring as everybody else and I think that's the death knell for the Maori Party."

He told the Herald last night that he was not intending to challenge the credibility of the party's leaders for whom he had "the greatest respect".

But he believed there were communication issues and they may be being badly advised on some fronts.

He also fears the party is overly fearful of the scrutiny it will face once candidates are chosen.

Party co-leader Tariana Turia, who said at the party's launch that candidates would likely be chosen by New Year, dismissed Mr Harawira's concerns.

Asked on TV3 last night whether Mr Harawira had ruined his candidacy chances she said: "Quite clearly Hone needs to come and talk to us about whether he still is interested."