Maori Party faces leadership coup “before Christmas”

By the end of the year, the Maori Party could have a new leader, according to Ngapuhi spokesman and academic, David Rankin. Mr. Rankin made the surprise announcement because he said that he could no longer pretend that nothing was happening.

“Over the past several weeks, I have been informed by two people close to the Maori Party hierarchy that Hone Harawira is planning a coup against the Party’s co-leaders, Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples”.

Mr. Rankin says that this was confirmed last week, when Hone Harawira’s mother, Titewhai, was on television condemning the Maori Party leadership, and promoting her son as a viable alternative.

“It is clear that Hone does not have the numbers in the Parliamentary party for a successful leadership bid”, says Mr. Rankin, “but among the Party membership, his support is substantial, and Party officials are looking at that support base and wondering whether they can afford to squander it”.

Mr. Rankin believes that any leadership challenge will happen just before the end of the year, when the Government’s replacement for the Foreshore and Seabed Act will be in its final stages in Parliament.

“Tariana and Pita are mortally compromised over this bill”, says Mr Rankin, “and Hone is appearing increasingly to the Party’s officials as a credible alternative”.

As further proof that a leadership challenge is in the wings, Mr Rankin pointed out that Hone Harawira is now privately refusing to deny his ambition for the top job.

ENDS

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