15 Feb 2011

Maori Party prepared to live with Harawira fall-out - Turia

9:10 am on 15 February 2011

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the party is prepared to live with any electoral fall-out from its wrangles with Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira.

Political commentator, Matt McCarten, has suggested Mrs Turia and Mr Harawira may be the only two Maori Party MPs left after the election, as the row over whether the party is right to support the Government, cuts its support among the wider Maori population.

But Mrs Turia told Waatea News the comments by the former Alliance president should be read in the context that he has been advising Mr Harawira behind the scenes.

"He has a bias," she said.

Mrs Turia said the Maori Party leadership is not letting the complaint against Hone Harawira divert its attention from other important work that needs doing.