The Maori Party's ruling council is dismissing reports that it is discussing reneging on a deal over the ETS legislation.

Giving Hone Harawira the option of remaining with the Maori Party shows principle has been sacrificed to political expediency, Buddy Mikaere says.

Controversial Maori Party MP Hone Harawira will probably remain in the party but may face a period of suspension from caucus, co-leader Pita Sharples said today.

Hone Harawira appears to be still at odds with his party's leadership, but says meetings in his electorate have been fruitful.

Hone Harawira has taken on QC Peter Williams to advise him during his battle to stay with the Maori Party.

Ministers will have to personally buy the taxpayer-provided furniture, crockery and whiteware in their Wellington homes.

Hone Harawira's "white mother******s" comment has provoked 753 approaches to Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres, who says the vast majority complained they had been insulted.

If the Maori Party and the Government had any hopes of keeping the hornet's nest the Hone Harawira dispute had stirred up with him in Te Tai Tokerau, they were quickly disabused of the notion yesterday.

A report out today says the government's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) could cost twice as much as originally estimated.

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".

A defiant Hone Harawira says he will not resigned from the Maori Party.