By Brook Sabin
It is looking increasingly likely that rebel MP Hone Harawira will resign from the Maori Party.
After a hui yesterday, Mr Harawira said he was confident his future lies with the party, but 3 News understand he has now changed his mind.
Buddy Mikaere, former director of the Waitangi Tribunal and the one on the end of Mr Harawira’s expletive-ridden tirade says it is definitely time for the MP to go.
“I’d like to see him resign, but I don’t think he will.”
After Thursday night’s hui, Mr Harawira was confident he would stick with the Maori Party.
“There are issues that we need to resolve within the caucus and within the party, but I have no doubts that that’s where my future lies,” Mr Harawira said.
“If they lose Hone, I think they’ll begin to lose a bit of a connect with the grassroots and that’s not going to be a good thing over the long term,” said Awiri Taonui, head of Maori Studies at Canterbury University.
“They’ve got to sit down with the guy and sort him out.”
The president of the Maori Party released a statement saying they hope to continue to work cooperatively with Hone in the House, as an independent MP.
Mr Taonui says that’s indicative of deeper rifts in the party that go right back to the coalition deal made with National.
“There’s a little bit of tension in there and Hone’s not completely happy.”
Mr Tikaere says two weeks to decide is a long time in parliament.
“Who knows what might happen in the interim.”
To read what was said in the Maori Party's press conference this afternoon, click here
3 News