13 Feb 2011

Harawira contacted over TV interview

10:01 pm on 13 February 2011

The Maori Party's Disputes and Disciplinary Committee chairwoman has talked to MP, Hone Harawira, about an interview in which he discussed the ongoing tensions between himself and the party.

This is despite Mr Harawira saying he would not speak to reporters until the committee had made its final decision, as he did not want the situation to become a media circus.

The committee is considering a complaint laid by the party whip, that Hone Harawira has brought the party into disrepute.

During an interview on Sunday morning on Television New Zealand's Marae Investigates programme, Mr Harawira talked about the impact on his family, and his reasons for being such an outspoken MP.

The committee's chairwoman, Te Orohi Paul, earlier said she intended to talk to Mr Harawira about the interview on Sunday evening, before a teleconference with other committee members, which she expected to take several hours.