Harawira may not be forced out of party

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The Maori Party could step back from the brink over Hone Harawira as he keeps his head down before a major hui today.

Maori Party co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia will attend the gathering of the party's ruling council in Otaki, where the party's next move on Mr Harawira's future in Parliament is likely to be debated. Neither leader returned calls yesterday.

But there appears to be a growing expectation within wider government circles that Mr Harawira will not be forced out if he refuses to walk away from the Maori Party as he was urged to do at a disciplinary hearing last week. An apology might be one way to mend bridges.

Mr Harawira was told to consider serving out the rest of his term in Parliament as an independent MP, after a falling out over his handling of questions about a trip to Paris while he was in Europe at taxpayers' expense.

He hit out at one supporter about "white motherf...ers" and said he was answerable to no-one except his Te Tai Tokerau constituents.

Mrs Turia and Dr Sharples looked to have closed the door on Mr Harawira last week but have since refused to speak about the matter.

They have come under intense pressure from party members as the furore threatens to divide the party.

But the falling out is deeper than Mr Harawira's Paris trip – his opposition to the Government's emissions trading scheme (ETS) and other legislation have caused friction in the Maori Party caucus.

ETS legislation looks likely to be rammed through Parliament next week under urgency with the Maori Party's support, as the Government negotiates with five iwi over special concessions.

They include turning over parts of the conservation estate for tree planting to iwi, mainly South Island tribe Ngai Tahu, in return for the Maori Party's support.

But the deal is dividing Maori – in a strongly worded letter, the Federation of Maori Authorities wrote to Climate Change Minister Nick Smith yesterday warning that they were disappointed with the final shape of the Government's ETS.

It said the federation was not interested in a Maori-only solution and forest owners should all be treated the same.

- © Fairfax NZ News