11 Jul 2014

Turia keen for male, female leaders

7:04 pm on 11 July 2014

Outgoing Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is making it clear she wants both a male and female leader for the caucus following the upcoming election.

Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia are quitting before this year's general election.

Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples. Photo: RNZ

Mrs Turia and the party's former leader, Pita Sharples, are both retiring from Parliament. Te Ururoa Flavell replaced Dr Sharples last year.

She said it was up to the party to decide what happened should a woman not get in to Parliament but it was possible to appoint someone outside of it - and she would support either option.

Mrs Turia hoped the party would hold fast to the need for a female leader, because it had been clear to her that men and women thought differently about issues and that a female voice should be heard.

The Maori Party is launching its election campaign this weekend.