Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Supporters of Maori Party MP Hone Harawira in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate say they are relieved the party leadership appears to have listened to the people.

The party's co-leader, Pita Sharples, has said it is likely the embattled MP will stay with the party, though he would first have to apologise to New Zealand and possibly face a temporary suspension from caucus.

Mr Harawira got into trouble after skipping official business to go sightseeing in Paris while on an overseas trip to Brussels and using obscene language in an email to a party supporter who questioned him about his decision.

Te Tai Tokerau chairperson Rahuia Kapa says it has become obvious that the electorate does not wish Hone Harawira to leave the party and it is glad the leadership has heard the voice of the people.

Malcolm Mulholland, a supporter and a member of the party's Te Tai Tokerau electorate committee, says the party had set aside two weeks to discuss Mr Harawira's future.

Another party meeting will be held on Sunday, the end of the two-week period, to discuss Mr Harawira's future, however Mr Mulholland says Dr Sharples may have pre-empted the outcome.

Thorough apology needed - Mikaere

The email's recipient, former Waitangi Tribunal director Buddy Mikaere, says Mr Harawira should apologise for the sentiments in the message, which lashed out at Pakeha, not just the foul language.

"Its about how Maori and Pakeha feel about each other, so it goes back to what motivates someone to be in politics if they're holding a particular view," he says.

"Unless there's a fairly clear and unequivocal statement about those kind of things, then he should resign."

Harawira 'has strong support'

Hone Sadler, a Ngapuhi elder who lectures in Maori Studies at Auckland University, says Mr Harawira has the strong support of his elders and a very large following among Maori under 40.

Mr Sadler, who is not a Maori Party member, says if the Te Tai Tokerau MP had been forced to leave the party it would have torn itself apart.

He says Mr Harawira needs to make an unqualified apology for his unkind remarks about Pakeha, though Pakeha need to bear in mind that Maori hear themselves vilified daily on populist TV and radio shows, and generally don't complain.

Harawira reflects

Mr Harawira says he has a lot of ground to cover to rebuild broken alliances as he weighs up his future with the party.

In his latest newspaper column, the Te Tai Tokerau MP says he's been reflecting on some major screwups on his part and some rather astonishing statements from the party's leadership.

He says he has a way to go before he can "get back on his horse".

Listen to Radio New Zealand's political editor on Morning Report