The Maori Party's Pita Sharples has been re-elected as the party's co-leader after fellow MP Te Ururoa Flavell told the party he was unwilling to challenge Dr Sharples for the position.
In another development, co-leader Tariana Turia is considering stepping down as a minister after two years and handing her portfolios over to Mr Flavell, who is widely expected to succeed Dr Sharples as co-leader.
The two co-leaders, Dr Sharples and Mrs Turia, were re-elected for three years by the party's National Council in a teleconference meeting this week. That conference replaced a post-election Special General Meeting which was scheduled for Saturday because the party had expected to deal with a change of leadership.
The teleconference followed reports Mr Flavell was ready to challenge Dr Sharples for the leadership as the party readied itself for the retirements of both co-leaders by 2014.
Yesterday, Mr Flavell said he had told the co-leaders and members of the National Council that he would not put his name up against Dr Sharples. He would wait until Dr Sharples left the leadership of his own volition.