Former Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has taken another step towards forming a new political party.
Mr Harawira held a meeting in Whangarei on Sunday with about 30 supporters, including Te Tai Tokerau electorate officials who have resigned from the Maori Party to back him.
A spokesperson says Mr Harawira will be asking on his website for suggestions for a name for a new party, and hopes to launch it on 30 April.
Supporters say meetings around the country have shown strong encouragement for a new pro-Maori party of the left, and there will be more hui this week.
Mr Harawira is opening a new office this week in Whangarei's Bank St.
They want us to stand - Sharples
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says Nga Puhi leaders want the party to stand a candidate in Te Tai Tokerau against Hone Harawira.
Dr Sharples told Waatea News that the leaders felt they had been deserted by the Maori Party and had been in touch personally
with him and co-leader Tariana Turia to "come up north and re-establish our branches up there".
Dr Sharples says he doesn't believe Mr Harawira's claim that support for him to form a new political party is coming from Maori Party branches around the country.
