October 14, 2013
Merger challenge from Harawira
Mana leader Hone Harawira is blaming the Maori Party’s Te Ururoa Flavell for blocking attempts to merge the two Maori parties.
Latest polling show that now he is co-leader, Mr Flavell should not have difficulty retaining Waiariki, after just beating Mana president Annette Sykes in 2011.
Mr Harawira says ever since he won the by-election for Te Tai Tokerau in 2011 he has been making overtures to mend the rift, and getting either rejection or silence.
"If it’s not going to happen, it’s clearly because those in the Maori Party are simply interested in protecting their own patch. I’d step down as leader. It’s got nothing to do with me as an individual, in the same way it’s doesn’t have anything to do with Te Ururoa as an individual. It’s to do with the principle of kotahitanga, and the reality is that the majority of Maori people want this to happen," he says.
Hone Harawira says he can work with Mr Flavell, but Mr Flavell doesn’t seem willing to work with him.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd