The Maori Party leadership wanted him gone. Hone Harawira is determined to stay. While he's likely to win, it will come at a significant cost.
A decision will be made this weekend at a hui in Te Tai Tokerau.
Hone will be forced to tone down his language, his behaviour and his antics. He will for a while, but it's unlikely to last forever.
He is born out of the protest movement. His mother is Titewhai. He has been like this for more than 50 years. Does his electorate really want a genetically modified, well behaved and silenced Harawira?
Harawira writes in his weekly column that he has made some big screw ups, but he also continues to question his leadership. He says they have made some astonishing statements. That's not likely to impress Turia and Sharples.
I believe Pita Sharples never wanted Hone out. He just wanted some form of public apology and back down.
I firmly believe Tariana Turia has been driving this. She wants him out. But now she faces the grassroots of the very party she set up.
The grassroots appears supportive of Harawira. The majority of the electorates want him to stay. It's only Turia that's holding out.
The Maori Party has always been Turia's baby. Now she's finding out there are others out there.
Her strong-arm approach to dealing with Hone has surprised and impressed many.
She too has made many radical and controversial statements over the years, but now she's on the inside and she's getting some huge wins.
There's the Foreshore and Seabed, Whanau Ora (a massive plan to allow Maori to control taxpayers money across social services), and don't forget the Tino Rangatiratanga flag that will fly on Waitangi Day next year from John Key's residence and the Harbour Bridge.
So Turia has a genuine seat at the table and she doesn't want Hone stuffing that up.
I sense the tension between Turia, Hone and Titewhai goes back years and perhaps decades, rather than weeks.
So watch Hone this weekend. I think you’ll see him sign up to the kaupapa again with the Maori Party. But he's made a pig’s ear of it. He's damaged his party and its work and its reputation. He has left National embarrassed that it has to work with him and take his vote.
But putting the "white mo’ fo’" line aside, he's a likeable rogue. He has a following and he has support.
Turia is now finding out that getting rid of him ain't that easy. But, if he stays, his hands will be tied for a while. How long can it last?