Maori Party considering action on Hone Harawira

Hone Harawira Prepares For Big Meeting

MICHAEL FIELD

Maori Party President Whatarangi Winiata and Pita Sharples at the hui.

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Firebrand MP Hone Harawira has been given two weeks to decide if he wants to remain a Maori Party MP, in the wake of his racially abusive comments about white people.

At a hui in his electorate on the outskirts of Kaitaia today, Mr Harawira was told he could become an independent MP, party president Professor Whatarangi Winiata told reporters.

Winiata confirmed the option during a hui in Kaitaia to discuss whether disciplinary action should be taken against Harawira for a racially-inflammatory email in which he branded white people "motherf....s".

"We just don't know how to manage him," he said.

Reporters from Maori language media were the only ones allowed inside the hui.

However, outside, Winiata confirmed they had put to Hawawira that he "leave the party and stand as an independent".

In a statement, Winiata said the suggestion "simply acknowledges the reality of Mr Harawira's stance as an independent MP for Te Tai Tokerau".

"Hone has said a number of times that he does not give a toss what anyone thinks except the people of Te Tai Tokerau, and his behaviour over the past couple of weeks has underlined that position.

"If Hone believes he is not accountable to the Maori Party or its leadership, or the Party caucus in Parliament, then clearly he has placed himself outside the party," Winiata said.

Membership of the Maori Party involved discipline and obligations and resigning would free Mr Harawira from those constraints.

"We expect our people to act in accordance with the kaupapa and tikanga of the party, with integrity, respect and consideration for others.

"We require our MPs to work as a team, and Hone clearly has difficulty with this, given his words and deeds, whichhave had a devastating effect on his colleagues and the party as a whole.

Winiata acknowledged that the suggestion had gone down badly at the hui, and that Harawira would work with elders - with a two week deadline - to find a solution. He said the party hierarchy had not come north to punish Mr Harawira.

Harawira told reporters: "It's [the independent proposal is] the silliest idea I've heard of".

The hui was sparked by Harawira sending an expletive-ridden email to a former supporter who questioned him taking off to Paris with his wife during a taxpayer funded trip to Europe on parliamentary business. The disciplinary meeting was to decide what to do with the radical MP.

Loud voices could be heard coming from inside the hall and enclosed heated swimming pool at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa school and marae, six kilometres north of Kaitaia.

The party initially said 300 people were attending the meeting but half the audience proved to be school children putting on a swimming display and cultural performance.

Party leadership initially said they would not attend but, when it began, co-leader Pita Sharples arrived with Winiata.

Sharples made no statement by a marae official stressed he was attending as an "old friend" of Harawira rather than as party leader.

Harawira appeared relaxed at the meeting.

Winiata said the situation would cause upset and anxiety for Maori Party supporters in Te Tai Tokerau but he assured them the party would maintain a presence in the electorate.

"This recent time has been profoundly distressing for the Maori Party, for many New Zealanders and inevitably for the wider Harawira whanau," Prof Winiata said.

The party was now looking for closure and an opportunity to "restore a sense of dignity and reguild relationships of trust and mutual respect."

Co-leader Tariana Turia made it clear yesterday that she was upset by Harawira's behaviour, which included an abusive email and a controversial trip to Paris.

"I think that what was in the email was particularly distressing. There's no doubt that nobody likes to be spoken to in that manner. No-one likes abusive emails, least of all myself. So I have found that incredibly distressing." It was damaging to the party, which had received offensive and racist emails about the controversy."

- with TRACY WATKINS, The Dominion Post, and NZPA