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There will be big changes in store this weekend for the Māori Party, which holds its annual meeting at Te Wānanga ō Awanuiarangi in Whakatane.
The party will be analysing what went wrong with its campaign in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election, where its candidate Na Raihania came third, 700 votes behind Mana's Te Hamua Nikora.
The leadership battle between male co-leader Pita Sharples and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell should finally come to an end, with Dr Sharples formally stepping down tomorrow morning.
"I will remain as a minister and I will serve in parliament until the next election at the end of 2014 so I’ve still got a year and a half to go and I’m looking forward to finishing some of the tasks I’ve taken on as minister," Dr Sharples says.
The issue of whether the party should continue with its male and female co-leaders could also be up for debate.
Tariana Turia, who sparked the leadership battle by calling for rejuvenation, isn’t standing down at this time.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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