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Sharples to stay as Maori Party co-leader

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Sharples to stay as Maori Party co-leader

3News NZ

Dr Sharples won't stand down, despite advice from his co-leader (file pic)

Dr Sharples won't stand down, despite advice from his co-leader (file pic)

By 3 News online staff

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has dismissed rumours he will stand down as Maori Party co-leader, telling Te Karere he intends to lead the party into the next election.

It was widely speculated Dr Sharples would follow Tariana Turia's lead, who had said they should both stand aside in 2014 to make way for a fresh leadership duo to take the party into the future.

Dr Sharples has this afternoon quashed those rumours, saying he wouldn’t pass on the role of co-leader to Te Ururoa Flavell.

The move has been labelled a “missed opportunity for generational change” by political commentator and blogger Morgan Godfery.

“What they need to do is move with the electorate - and the electorate is becoming increasingly young,” he told RadioLIVE.

He says Maori Party MPs will come under increasing pressure in their electorate seats, especially Dr Sharples who has a slim majority of just 750 in Tamaki Makaurau.

“What Dr Sharples is doing is really solidifying the idea that the Maori Party is the kaumatua Party." 

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Comments

20/01/2013 3:09:37 p.m.

jan.. wrote:

Excellent moved Sharple, you made the right choice. Bless you.

19/01/2013 6:54:52 p.m.

George wrote:

I think it is wise for Pita Sharples to continue on past 2014 as you can't have 2 senior MPs bow out next year. He has the support to stay on and Te Ururoa Flavell is still young enough to be leader following 2014. Pita is looking at younger members of parliament and he's starting with rangatahi in Tamaki Makaurau. I noticed that he's been doing the miles in Auckland arranging his own visits to Asian, Maori, Social Service groups, Health Services, schools, Pacific Groups and Indian communities and its not even an election year. I think he learnt from the close shave of last years election. Good on you Pita go for Gold. And to Te Ururoa - good things comes to those who wait.

18/01/2013 8:50:42 a.m.

Dan wrote:

@ VALLEYMAN, Good, an end to this racist party is exactly what we want. Let Sharples drive it into the ground.

18/01/2013 7:48:14 a.m.

Mike wrote:

Pita has given stability to the Maori party which has seen it achieve more in government than Maori every achieved as Labour Lackeys.

Working in government is a compromise, and Sharple has shown maturity in handling issues better than well established parties like Labour.

Labours statement on Maori and the Maori Party being 'Last Cab on the Rank' still applies. LBOUR dont give a damn about anyone so long as they get the vote, and reduced numbers turning up to vote Labour show that they are missing the mark generally even ouside Maori. Last Election the Maori party faced huge problems with Hone, but chose to address them. The Maori party was hard hit by Hone leaving and starting the Mana Party, but not addressing the issues would have cost even more dearly - like Labour chosing to be essentially leaderless going into the election.

It would make sense to have some transition. Given Turia is leaving, if Pita feels he can do another term, then his staying should add some transition and stability which will be needed. It wont mean the Maori party will do well with Pita leading, but it might just be they do better with Pita than without.

18/01/2013 7:45:29 a.m.

Ben wrote:

Just because there are more children at a school than adults doesn't mean you turn the school over to the children for them to run. Mr. Sharples has a lifetime of experience to draw on and contribute to a party just now moving into its own right. There was a time for both Maori and Pakeha when elders were given the respect that was due them. It seems to have disappeared along with respect and honour. The Maori party should be glad he is staying on. Because if he was to go and start his own party the Maori Party would self-destruct before the next election without decent leadership. Since Tariana has decided to step down and surrender her leadership should mean she should now keep her comments to herself.

18/01/2013 6:55:24 a.m.

atrout wrote:

Greed is what will keep him there. He seems to want to ride out the end of the Maori Party. The party really isn't needed now with National providing the separatist issues instead. NZ politics are at an all time low and nobody cares.

17/01/2013 9:23:44 p.m.

Valleyman wrote:

Pita hasn't had his fill at the trough yet, if he don't step aside & bring younger fresher people in it will spell the end of the maori party