Watch your back, candidate warned

Solomon Tipene. Photo / APN

The Maori Party's Te Tai Tokerau byelection candidate Solomon Tipene has warned his successor to watch his back "lest it be bitten by the Maori Party dogs" - a reference to the leaders of the party.

Mr Tipene - who came a distant third to Mana's Hone Harawira and Labour's Kelvin Davis in the electorate - made the comments on Te Kaea after Waihoroi Shortland was selected to stand for the party in the election.

Mr Solomon had previously said he hoped to stand again in the election, but after speaking to the party leadership he did not put his name forward.

On Te Kaea, his advice to Mr Shortland was "be strong".

"Watch your back, lest it be bitten by the Maori Party dogs. I'm referring to the leaders - they did that to me and Hone Harawira."

Mr Tipene did not return calls yesterday but the party president Pem Bird said it was clearly a reference to Tariana Turia over her comment in the lead-up to the byelection that Mr Harawira should win it, if he had put in the work.

Mrs Turia later apologised for the comment both publicly and to Mr Tipene.

Mr Bird said he was disappointed by Mr Tipene's "inexcusable" outburst, given the time and resources the party had put into his campaign.

Mr Shortland said he understood Mr Tipene's frustration and there was clearly some "residual pain". Mr Shortland said he had checked with Mr Tipene before he put his own name up, because he did not want to run against one of his own iwi.

He said Mr Tipene had indicated he would be supportive of him.

Mr Tipene's focus was to make life harder for Mr Harawira.

"I don't believe he should have a free ride and in the final analysis it would be a huge prize if there was no Mana."

A spokeswoman for the Maori Party said the leaders would not comment on the matter. Mrs Turia was recovering from concussion after a car accident this week.