President to reconsider Maori Party leader role

Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata's plans to retire from the post today appear to have been scuttled after several people within the party asked him to stay on.

Dr Winiata had announced his intention to stand down at today's annual general meeting in Auckland.

He is two years through his three-year term, but had proposed resigning to allow his successor two years in the position before the next election.

Asked if he had changed his mind, he said he had been approached about it and would stay on if the membership decided it was the best option.

He would wait to hear what the meeting wanted before deciding.

The party's co-president, retired Maori Land Court judge Heta Kenneth Kingston, was tipped to succeed him.

Dr Winiata has led the party wing of the Maori Party since it was formed in 2004 and having him stay on will help the party's stability.

The AGM will be the first since the Maori Party agreed to support the National Party in government.

It will cap a volatile week for the party after its relations with National were tested over the issue of Maori Television's bid for the rights to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Dr Winiata acknowledged there were always difficulties in the political environment but he believed the party was learning to manage the relationships.