Tamihere hints at Maori Party split

By RUTH BERRY

Labour's John Tamihere says the spat between Hone Harawira and the Maori Party leaders reflects tension about how much power the Harawira family should hold.

Mr Harawira, a party regional organiser and aspiring Tai Tokerau candidate, has accused the leadership of being conservative and boring and is annoyed the party is not moving fast enough to appoint candidates.

He has received a ticking off from co-leader Tariana Turia for his comments.

"We're disappointed Hone chose to speak to the radio rather than speak to us," she said on National Radio yesterday. "I will be talking to him."

Mr Tamihere appeared delighted at the trouble.

Mr Harawira, his mother and sister, Titewhai and Hinewhare, have also played a role in the party's formation. "But there's a group in the Maori Party that don't want the Harawiras," Mr Tamihere said.

"It was only a matter of time before the venerated groupings that make up the so-called Maori Party woke up and started looking very closely at one another and at their significant differences."