Tariana Turia says she's definitely standing down as Te Tai Hauauru MP next election and Ken Mair says he doesn't want her seat.
Commentators were speculating about the Maori Party's ability to survive without Mrs Turia and co-leader Pita Sharples on Maori TV's Native Affairs on Monday.
With the Act and Maori parties looking shaky, they were also wondering where John Key's National Government will find the extra seats it's likely to need after the next election. Commentator Matt McCarten said Mr Key had asked Mrs Turia to stay, because he was "desperate". But Mrs Turia, interviewed at Parliament yesterday, said he had not asked her to stay.
Mr McCarten also said the party's co-vice president Ken Mair wanted to stand in Te Tai Hauauru. Mr Mair said that showed Mr McCarten was "disconnected from the real world of Maoridom".
He said a candidate selection process was going on. About six people were showing an interest, and he was not one of them.