Harawira urged to become an independent at hui

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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 4:57p.m.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira

By Angela Beswick and James Murray
 
A Maori Party hui set up to decide the fate of Hone Harawira has proposed that he should leave the party and think about becoming an independent MP.
 
Mr Harawira has been given two weeks to make his decision, but described the proposal as "the silliest I have ever heard".
 
“The kaumatua have asked for two weeks to work with Hone,” said Maori Party President Whatarangi Winiata.

“They will decide what the agenda is. We have agreed to that approach. We made it clear we did not come here to punish, we came here to find a way to make Hone a great politician.”

He suggested Mr Harawira stand as an independent and said he did not think the MP could find a way forward over the next two weeks, to still be a part of the Maori Party.

“He doesn’t want to go,” he said of Mr Harawira’s reaction to the proposal.

But Mr Winiata thought Mr Harawira would choose to stay within the party.

“I anticipate that he will, because the kaumatua will come up with some solutions.”

“I’d like him to be a member of the [Maori] Party for a long time,” he said.

“Providing he doesn’t destroy the party in the process, that’s been the difficulty.”

The hui process was an unusual step in New Zealand politics, but Mr Winiata said he was pleased with the approach they had taken.

"This is a very new but very Maori approach to dealing with a bright young man."
 
Mr Harawira told reporters that he did not plan to leave the Maori Party.
 
“I have no intentions of leaving the party, I think it is the way forward for Maori.”

“There are issues that we need to resolve within the caucus, and within the party, but I have no doubts that that is where my future lies.”

When asked if he thought he could turn himself around now, Harawira said he will have a korero with some people over the weekend.

“I’m not feeling disappointed at all. I’m comfortable with the support I have. I understood already what the issues were, because I spoke to the president [of the Maori party] last weekend.”
 
Mr Harawira left reporters with a confident riposte - suggesting that this will certainly not be the last we see of him.
 
"I'll be making best use of the next two weeks to make sure that come back to Parliament - all guns blazing."
 
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today said the Maori Party should have instantly expelled Mr Harawira for his "outrageous racist behaviour".
 
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Comments

18 Nov 2009 08:45p.m.

Jan.. wrote:

Algud Richard with no hard feelings..

18 Nov 2009 05:07p.m.

Richard wrote:

To Jan.., does Hone need you to fight on his behalf? comments are peoples thoughts, not questions that need answering by you!

18 Nov 2009 03:32p.m.

Jan.. wrote:

You are wrong Richard, Mr. Harawira is an educated men and english language is his power but his own language is totally powerfull, what is your position?
If you have the same level education as Mr.Harawira then i wont comment on your such as comment..
The indepentents are much more for themself rather then the thievies were once upon took away there rights and families were seperated from each other, corruptions,raped young children and family into slavery..

18 Nov 2009 02:47p.m.

Richard wrote:

Hang on a minute, didnt he say it would be foolish to be an independant..yet here he goes..the real reason he didnt go to the meeting in france is because he knew that those at the meeting would be intelligent and educated, a league he knows nothing about..frauds dont like to be shown up...run run..back to your hick town, where only they will vote for you..wannabe politican, way out of your depth bro

17 Nov 2009 06:13p.m.

Jan.. wrote:

The indepentant will never changed, look at Scotland, Ireland, Wales, they all become indepentant after they kill many innocence people by blowing one another up with guns and bombs..Whose is in the fault here..
Obama the American President in China with a beautiful smile, yet to visit other countries to bring peace and a safer world for our children to follow..

13 Nov 2009 09:05a.m.

Jim wrote:

Vernice
I do not know which planet you are from, but please return there with your racist mate Harawira and his separatist thugs who all have the tact of charging bulls. Most Maori do not like people like him as he brings all of us up in a bad light when it is only his narrow minded / blinded opinion.
John Smith
Good comments, and be safe in the knowledge he is not an intellect but intellectually handicapped!!!

13 Nov 2009 12:27a.m.

The Odde wrote:

If a white guy said that about a Maori guy....I think the up roar will be so huge that probably global media would cover it and he is probably out of office before he could utter "I'm Sorry". Or an Asian. Or an Indian. Or any other ethnic. But because he is very prominent Maori, we don't move him. If he is fired, you sure bet you will see Maori doing what Maori do best. March somewhere singing their grievances with a haka in between. And claim he is fired because he is Maori. Oh the irony of that. Lets be honest though, the Maori Party clearly doesn't want him and clearly are disgusted by his comments, whether the reason is emotional or political is quite irrelevant. They just don't want a high profile divorce and are distancing himself. They have a hard time to make themselves look not-racist, now Hone came with this fireball, this really sets them back. I'm losing faith in the political system if Hone Harawira gets re-elected. But there is enough Maori in this country who suffers enough injustice, directly or indirectly due to government actions/inactions, to see Hone as the hero against the "oppressive state". Is like the Greens and NZ First, there is enough environemtalists/conservatives and old people/resisting change people to get them votes. Hone doesn't run the white vote or any other vote except Maori. He offended the whole country, but he did not offend his voters, at least not deeply enough to deter them.

12 Nov 2009 11:15p.m.

venus wrote:

I personally am pleased with the very Maori approach though most do not understand what has taken place, yet they still comment as if they do.

Hone is leaving Parliament, by way of his constituents who are allowing him to save face as an Independant.

He will survive for a while as an Independant, and after that, if he has any sense he will resign.

I wonder, who will replace him ??

Now that is the question - isnt it ?



12 Nov 2009 11:10p.m.

lee wrote:

what a drama - get over it everyone is it really a big deal does it really matter? If it don't fit don't wear it. it was not suppose to be exposed to the public (thanks to whom exposed it and did we all hear the full story?). Hone was obviously upset and he has obviously got some issues to continue to work through? its all being acknowledged and worked through now - alot of good can come out of it if he is willing to look @ himself and turn it around (a blessing in disguise) - why punish him use it to rectify and resolve the issues that are obviously there. its easy to judge and persecute but put yourself in there shoes (or think about your own flaws and mistakes) unless your a saint or perfect? shit happens sometimes. I say go Hone I wish him well and that he learns from this. He may be happy the way he is (honest, upfront abd free to be himself - not false - i can understand his anger around his maoridom - we have been terribly racist towards maori)

12 Nov 2009 10:21p.m.

cyril wrote:

Yip the moari party is toast for not making a strong stand on this one. They will be concidered to condon racism through there actions although they are only confirming what politicians have been trying to hide for years, that racism isnt only a whitemans fault. The big differance is that calling a whiteman a racist is a sure way to get him to capitualate with your wishes to prove you wrong whereas most other people are proud because it means they are a patriot.