Harawira unhappy with process, but keen to korero

Hone Harawira. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Hone Harawira wants the Maori Party to set aside its disciplinary process saying he has no respect for it.

Yesterday the Tai Tokerau MP and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell met at Taheke marae, near Rotorua, to try to resolve issues arising from a newspaper article Mr Harawira wrote which criticised the party.

Mr Flavell invoked the party's formal complaint process but neither would discuss the specifics of the closed meeting.

The pair appeared relaxed and were joking after a four-hour meeting they said was frank and open, although the matter remained unresolved.

Mr Flavell said his complaints still stood, but he was happy to keep talking with Mr Harawira.

"Some things we have commonalities about, other things we still remain divided about," he said.

"But that's cool because our history goes back a long way, some 40 years. So we're pleased to carry on and keep the korero going until such time as such things take over, whatever that be."

The party's national council is due to meet next Wednesday to continue the process which could end in Mr Harawira's dismissal from the party.

Mr Harawira said he preferred to keep talking to Mr Flavell.

"I said that to the president numerous times, I repeated it today. Kaupapa Maori [doing things in a Maori way] is something I will adhere to, but those sorts of rules I have no respect for."

As for his staying with the party, Mr Harawira didn't believe he was going anywhere soon.