Labour MP Shane Jones says he is going to take on Maori Party MP Hone Harawira every chance he gets.
Mr Jones is a strong critic of the Maori Party and indicated today the new session of Parliament would see some fiery exchanges.
"I'm sick and tired of being on the receiving end of all sorts of scurrilous remarks about how we've sold out Maori so I'm not going to take it any longer," he said on TV One's Q&A programme today.
"Politics and democracy is a contest of ideas and the idea that there's only one vision for the future based on some sort of ongoing colonial oppression, as represented by Hone (Harawira), is rubbish and I'm going to attack it and denounce it every chance I get."
Mr Jones said Labour's strategy was to show there was a contest of ideas.
"The notion that just because Tariana (Turia) wears the kiwi feather cloak that we're not allowed to have her on is rubbish, and if their ideas are empty...then they deserve to be attacked," he said.
Mr Jones said it was time for Maori to get back to the real issues of "joblessness and hopelessness" rather than allowing the Foreshore and Seabed Act to become a diversion.
Mr Jones is sometimes tipped as a potential challenger to Labour leader Phil Goff but he would not discuss his position on that.
Asked whether he would one day take the leadership if he was asked, Mr Jones replied: "That lies somewhere between our caucus and providence so we'll just wait and see."
NZPA