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The Maori Party Council will discuss their agreement
with Hone Harawira
after he slammed them by saying they broke the agreement
by contesting the Te Tai Tokerau seat at the next election.
Jasmyn Pearson has this report.
The dust hasn't even settled.
The Maori Party agreed that they would not contest my electorate.
Hone Harawira and his former colleagues came to an agreement
upon his leaving the Maori Party.
But the co-leaders believe
that the principals of that agreement have been broken.
There is a lot of talk floating around at the moment,
nothing formal just some concerns and complaints at this time.
But no doubt it will soon need to be discussed.
One of the agreements was that the Maori Party would not contest
the Te Tai Tokerau seat,
but it is said that the leaders are considering it
and it is also said that Hone will contest Maori Party seats.
I will travel to regions throughout the country,
but I will be saying to them
that we will not be contesting the seats held by the Maori Party.
That was the agreement I made and I maintain that promise.
There's no problems.
The thing we need to look at is whether someone is being oppressed,
discriminated against, or degraded.
That is when the agreement would be broken.
It is clear to see that the relationship
between Hone Harawira and his former colleagues has gone south.
However, we shouldn't be too surprised
as both groups seek the same thing – the Maori vote.
We have received requests from some respected Northland leaders
who wish to contest the Te Tai Tokerau electorate.
They say we have turned our backs on them.
But the President remains firm.
With regards to the Maori Party's Te Tai Tokerau regional office,
it should remain
as there are still a number of Maori Party supporters there.
Just not to compete.
The council will meet on the 16th of May in Hastings.
Jasmyn Pearson, Te Karere.