Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell has rejected co-leader Pita Sharples' claims he is trying to blackmail the party by threatening to leave if he does not get the leadership.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says MP Te Ururoa Flavell's statements that he will leave politics if he does not become leader before 2014 amount to "a kind of blackmail".

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has come out of his corner fighting in the leadership contest with MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

My jovial slip of the tongue about remaining the co-leader "until I die" was not what I intended, writes Dr Pita Sharples.

Te Ururoa Flavell has suggested it is time for Dr Pita Sharples to stand aside for fresh blood to take over leadership of the Maori Party.

Dame Sian Elias and fellow judges of the Supreme Court made a remarkable declaration of confidence in you and me and our adherence to a constitution this week.

John Key and David Shearer have both voiced support for a four-year parliamentary term - but the change will require public buy-in to happen.

Prime Minister John Key was left in little doubt that there was at least one place he wasn't the preferred Prime Minister: at Ratana Pa.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia has downplayed suggestions her party is in chaos over its leadership, saying planning a changeover at the top was a healthy necessity for any party.

Editorial: Nothing is more damaging to a political party than inner turmoil. Voters detest it and invariably deliver their verdict at the first possible opportunity.

The Maori Party National Council says there will be no immediate change in the party's leadership following a showdown at the Whangaehu marae.

John Key says he is confident that a potential change of leadership for the Maori Party will not derail National's confidence and supply agreement with the party.

Having done his utmost to get the Maori Party into the intensive care unit, Harawira has put on his quack's white coat and offered to give it the kiss of life, writes Claire Trevett.

Same with the constitutional review, those sorts of things that are big ideas stuff are just starting to take hold.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia has called on her fellow co-leader, Pita Sharples, to step down and hand over the reins to MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

Recent polls have shown that Labour's popularity is on the rise, with one indicating Labour, with support of the Greens, would hold enough seats to run Government.

Peter Jackson is said to be enthusiastic about monitoring off-set conditions for animals used in film productions, writes John Drinnan.

More than once at the Maori Party conference over the weekend, someone stood up and said the party needed to be clear about what it stood for, writes Audrey Young.

Maori party members are crying out for a "Maori Dotcom" to bankroll them into the next election.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says she would like the Maori Party to return to its broader support base, including Pakeha.