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Flavell, Katene want Maori Party co-leadership

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Maori Party leadership showdown

3News NZ

Pita Sharples wants to hold on to his ministerial portfolios if he's ousted

Pita Sharples wants to hold on to his ministerial portfolios if he's ousted

By 3 News online staff with NZN

A fight for the Maori Party’s leadership has begun at Ratana today, with MP Te Ururoa Flavell officially challenging incumbent co-leader Pita Sharples.

Former Te Tai Tonga MP Rahui Katene has also thrown her hat in the ring to replace Tariana Turia as both co-leader and Te Tai Hauāuru MP.

The challenges are the latest in an ongoing spat about who will lead the party into the next election, and what direction the party should take.

Ms Turia announced she will stand down before the next election to let new blood take over the party – and urged Dr Sharples to do the same.

But last week, Dr Sharples unveiled he had no plans to stand down, saying he’d continue to co-lead the party after next year’s election.

Today, as the Ratana Church celebrates its birthday, Mr Flavell confirmed he would launch a challenge against Dr Sharples and Ms Katene confirmed she wanted Ms Turia’s job.

Maori Party president Pem Bird says Mr Flavell’s challenge will be discussed this afternoon and the party’s constitution will be reviewed to see what now happens.

Dr Sharples told 3 News that if he is ousted by Mr Flavell, he wants to hang on to his ministerial portfolios, which include Maori Affairs and Associate Education.

The standoff has prompted Mana Party leader and former Maori Party MP Hone Harawira to say he’s being courted to lead the Maori Party.

He left it in February 2011 and formed Mana, but now he's suggesting the two could merge.

“I've been asked by various kaumatua and kuia to come back because of the divisions within the leadership and the fact that the Maori Party seems to be dying,” he says

“Mana is a vibrant and active political movement while the Maori Party has gone from a membership of some 24,000 when I was there to just 600 today.”

Mr Harawira says he's open to discussions with Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples.

“I think a Mana-Maori union is what people want - I have made the offer in the past and I happily make that offer again in the best interests of the people.”

Mr Harawira may be just trying to stir up trouble with his claims, but the Maori Party's support has dwindled and in the 2011 election it won 1.43 percent of the party vote compared with Mana's 1.08 percent.

3 News/NZN

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Comments

29/01/2013 10:10:31 a.m.

atrout wrote:

@Adrian... your view of history is so warped as to defy any reasonable analysis but for a wee bit of help to get your perspectives a little straighter I suggest that you read the following -http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10861947

28/01/2013 7:11:12 p.m.

Adrian wrote:

Atrout, separatism is constituted simply because two interpretations of a treaty was signed between two SEPARATE nations, the Maaori nation and the Crown who through illegitimate policies we now know instigated the formation of the present NZ nation. A pro, autonomous, independent Maaori nation voice inside the NZ nation's system illustrates a minuscule level of democratic acceptance here in stolen Aotearoa. Pure and true democracy here now occupied Aotearoa transformed into amnesia accepted NZ in it's current domestic political persona needs to reconnect and re-adopt an amicable alliance with the then foreign state belonging to iwi collective, Maaori and equally between the two existing nations pave a reconciliatory pathway forward for all nationalities who reside here. Acknowledging first and foremost that two nations exist, and then two governing systems exist will help relieve future generations of the financial burden bought on by crime continuums that early NZ settler governments though domineeringly cohersed by the Crown, intentionally executed. Two separate nations and indescribable, legally sound grievance claims of atrocities authorised by the same Crown imposed, imported system that governs us today terribly lacks merit. Legally victims are generally reinstated their self worth through intervention measures and assisted back to a position of prior state while the perpetrator/s are striped of all power and control that they once ruled. Maaori know this and NZers know this yet too weak to voice what's righteously right. Baffling to most I for one think the Crown should without doubt pay for its own criminally proven penalties, returning Maaori to a position of prior state, relieving the remaining NZ citizens of any connection to crime continuums that don't belong to us or belong to us by association.

26/01/2013 8:53:19 a.m.

atrout wrote:

A single issue, fully committed separatist like Katene would certainly sink the Maori Party in any relationship with either Labour or National. Any leadership role for her would kill off the last hopes for the Maori Party.

24/01/2013 3:24:40 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

We belived and trust in Hone Harawira that he should given a chance to be the Leader of the Maori Party, Hone has proved himself over the years fighting his rights trying his best for the Maori people and to those that needed help defending himself from his France trip causing the Kiosk and without Hone Harawira that we won't be able to support your fellowship. We are asking you to give Hone Harawira this chance to further the Maori regions future of good deeds and not only for Maori, Hone was able to deal with many outrages within our world. Bless you Pita Sharple to make the wise decision.

24/01/2013 1:53:15 a.m.

Moko55 wrote:

I believe the merging of the Maori, and Mana Party is what New Zealand needs. We have to STOP selling assets overseas, we need to pull out of NATO, UN and the WHO and STOP the Agenda 21 that WILL come our way if that Puppet Obama leads the US to a Civil War!

23/01/2013 6:20:51 p.m.

Craig wrote:

Race based political parties work as well as policies based on race.

23/01/2013 2:23:04 p.m.

Ben wrote:

Typical of maoridom. They finally get quality leadership with respect and kudos and then go and shoot themselves in the foot by changing it for dross. No wonder no one can take them seriously.

23/01/2013 12:23:49 p.m.

atrout wrote:

And if Hone is allowed back in the Maori Party then they could be expected to poll up to 2% in the next election. And what about the rest of the Mana leadership, would they find a place in the Maori Party? Don't thinks so!

23/01/2013 11:10:57 a.m.

eddie wrote:

Hone knows he will never get another Mana MP into parliament on his coat tails. Why the northland Maori keep voting for this clown is beyond me...then again, what has he actually done for them except take a huge salary (Hone, like all activists, talk a good game but cannot actually put action into words as it's always waayyyy too expensive when the spot light goes onto any 'policy' (Green Party the same)...guess Northland voted for what they got and will continue to vote for him...no sympathy there then!.

23/01/2013 11:03:52 a.m.

jt wrote:

The Maori Party signed their own death warrant when they decided to sup with the devil. They can still change that, for the benefit of Maori and all NZers.