Editorial: Flavell carries party's hopes

While some political experts are claiming we may see the end of the Maori Party come the next general elections, I'm not so sure.

For the party to survive they have to gain at least 5 per cent of the party vote or win an electorate seat.

Although nothing is guaranteed in politics, you'd have to think Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell has a good chance of winning the seat he has held since 2005.

He is a popular figure in the electorate of Waiariki and, at the last election, he faced off against two well-known opponents - Annette Sykes of the Mana Party and Louis Te Kani for Labour - who tried to topple him but with little success.

There is still plenty of time for someone to stand up and make their mark for the Waiariki seat but at this stage he appears to be safe.

What may be a concern for the Maori Party is trying to secure the seats currently held by Tariana Turia and Dr Pita Sharples.

In Saturday's newspaper, Mr Flavell told the Rotorua Daily Post his main goal as the co-leader was to strengthen the infrastructure of the party, so they could mobilise and energise their membership in preparation for the next election.

While this is commendable, I think they need to start showing voters who will join him as co-leader come the next election.

At this stage, there seems to be no one who has the mana like Tariana Turia to help Mr Flavell co-lead the Maori Party after the election.

Mr Flavell said no decisions had been made about a replacement but the selection process for candidates would hopefully identify a person who might be able to take up that responsibility.

He was confident there was a vast field of wahine Maori who could take up the role.

The next several months will be vital for Mr Flavell, and the Maori Party as a whole, to find someone to fill that co-leader role - not so much to keep the party alive but to continue its growth.