Mr Horomia remained loyal to Labour and gave no public hint of how torn he must have been. It spoke volumes for him yesterday that despite their differences, Mrs Turia's tribute was one of the most heartfelt he was given. "He could infuriate me, but he was also a confidant; my special mate through thick and thin, and I am heartbroken to lose him," she said.
His decision not to leave with her was probably crucial to Labour's retaining three of the seven Maori electorates at the 2005 election. If all of the seats eventually return to Labour, as seems possible now, he will have a hallowed place in the party's memory.
His death will require a byelection that could offer an early test of the Maori Party's prospects of survival. It is not having a glorious second term in John Key's Government. Unlike the first term when its difficulties were largely caused by Hone Harawira, its misfortunes now are largely of its own making. Mrs Turia intends to retire and Pita Sharples is resisting a challenge from Te Ururoa Flavell. A leadership contest within a party of three, two of whom are co-leaders, is the stuff of comedy.
Parekura Horomia's mana would probably retain Ikaroa-Rawhiti for Labour in any case. He was above all an assiduous electorate MP. Maori electorates, despite their size, are possibly better served by their member than most these days. The reason may be that electorate seats are still the battleground of Maori politics, which they are not for the mainstream contest.
Labour has never lost the list votes of Maori significantly, but it needs to win back the electorate votes if it is to prevent an independent Maori Party putting National back in power. It needs more MPs like Parekura Horomia.