(this news report sums up where hone stands now..)
“..Hone Harawira will spend the next fortnight with family and supporters back home before deciding whether to call the Maori Party’s bluff.
Co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples made it clear yesterday that there was little prospect of the maverick MP rehabilitating himself and the party was “moving on”.
Asked whether the party could still work with Mr Harawira if he promised to mend his ways, Mrs Turia responded: “I don’t think Hone is likely to change.”
MPs are due back in Parliament next week after a two-week recess, but Mr Harawira has been given two weeks’ leave to consult his electorate.
He has been asked to quit or face being pushed after an expletive-filled outburst over a public backlash to his unscheduled trip to Paris.
But sources suggested a challenge over the party’s actions as a breach of its constitution was possible .. indicating that Mr Harawira may call its bluff.
Dr Sharples made it clear yesterday that Mr Harawira was damaging the party, after his outburst accusing “white motherf…ers” of “raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries” stirred up a race relations hornet’s nest.
“We’re having difficulty controlling him, let’s be straight up about that,” Dr Sharples said.
“Tariana has had 600 emails as a response to the email Hone sent. I’ve had hundreds as well. Quite clearly there is concern about his behaviour.”
Mr Harawira could either remain in Parliament as an independent, or quit Parliament altogether, forcing a by-election.
He was keeping his head down yesterday and refused to comment..”
now..it is somewhat clear that harawira is being given the bums’ rush..
and let’s be clear here..
this is not about a paris trip..nor his demand for summary justice for goff/labour over the foreshore and seabed debacle..
this is the power struggle between turia and harawira coming to a head..
driven by the outspoken (private) opposition from harawira to what he sees as the maori party selling out to national..
and supporting legislation that is hurting maori..
(and..yahaftasay..he does have a point..)
now..harawira may be nurturing rejection-wounds at the moment..
..but he would be wise to see this as an opportunity..
as it stands..he has three options..
he can try to stay in the maori party..and fight his dismissal on constitutional grounds..
he can resign from the maori party..and stand as an independant..
or he can resign..and have a bye-election..
if he chooses the first option..and after a ‘messy’ battle..wins..what is he left with..?
the old problems won’t have gone away..and in fact will be compounded..
(both on the personal and political levels..)
the second option means he will be isolated..
and will have to fight the battle to retain the seat..in the general meelee of a general election..
where he/the fight will be a sideshow..
or he can chose to have that fight now..
which is the third option..
harawira should call their bluff/force a bye-election..now..
he can set up his new party..get a list together..and go for it..in a battle that will receive centre-stage attention from the media..
and when ..as expected by all..he wins..he will be the leader of a new political party..
(with all the attendant funding/infrastructure support..
and well set up to fight the next general election..)
what’s not to like about all that..?
and who should he have as number two on his new party list..?
(with a guaranteed co-leader slot..?)
how about sue bradford…?
between them they have at their hands the tools to set up a new..entirely viable centre-left party..
focussing on those who have been so studiously ignored by both national and labour..
and yes..of course that includes maori..
.but not only maori..
bradford would bring the disaffected left from the labour movement with her..
and together they would form a powerful new force/voice..
..for the empowering of the disempowered..
(and this new party will have the ‘security’ of that northern maori seat..as their power-base)
as i said..what’s not to like about all that..?
and really..
that is the best option for both hone harawira..
..and those he seeks to represent/fight for..
go to source/story>>Final countdown for Harawira | Stuff.co.nz
