December 14, 2017
Time for Maori Party to shake aged tag
Former Maori Party co-leader Sir Pita Sharples would like to see generational change in the party.
Lines are being drawn in the battle for leadership of the party, with outgoing president Tukoroirangi Morgan calling on the current co-leaders to step aside and contender Lance O'Sullivan saying he will only take charge if he can do it on his own without a co-leader.
Sir Pita says Marama Fox has been an exceptional MP and co-leader.
He says the party being voted out of parliament has thrown succession plans into disarray and it is time for new thinking.
"There's a whole lot of 30 to 40 year olds in Maoridom who are really thinking outside the square and are up with the play and some have already declared themselves and others have been targeted by people and their peers and I hope they will come forward and take over the party," Ta Pita says.
He says the Maori Party has few opportunities for politicing but it can't wait for three years so it needs to show its flag and what it stands for in other ways.
TA PITA SHARPLES FULL INTERVIEW
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