Summarised by Centrist
Te Pāti Māori is turning to one of the most combative figures in modern Māori politics after a damaging internal split saw two MPs walk away from the party.
Former Mana Party leader Hone Harawira is seeking the Te Tai Tokerau nomination, with party president John Tamihere confirming Harawira is aggressively pursuing a return to Parliament.
The opening emerged after sitting MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi quit Te Pāti Māori this week following a fractious dispute with party leadership. Former MP Tākuta Ferris has also left the party.
The departures have exposed growing instability inside a party that only recently appeared politically ascendant.
Now the party appears ready to bring back Harawira, who split from the original Māori Party in 2011 after a bitter falling out with leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples.
At the time, Harawira famously referred to former colleagues as “dickheads”.
He later formed the Mana Party, holding Te Tai Tokerau after a 2011 by-election before losing the seat in 2014 following Mana’s alliance with Kim Dotcom’s Internet Party.
Despite that collapse, Tamihere said Harawira has remained supportive of the modern Te Pāti Māori and is now moving quickly to lock down the nomination.
“He hasn’t just put his hand up, he’s gone out so hard and so fast, he’s trying to scare everyone else off,” Tamihere said.
Tamihere appeared to welcome Harawira’s combative reputation.
“Every party needs a thorn between their roses,” he said.
The Te Tai Tokerau race is now shaping as an early test of whether Te Pāti Māori can maintain unity and momentum after losing sitting MPs and suffering internal fractures.
Tamihere also hinted the party could attract candidates from rival political parties.
Asked whether one potential recruit came from another national political party, he replied: “Yes.”
Harawira himself declined to elaborate, texting Stuff: “I’m not interested in talking to you about it.”
Image: Socialist Aotearoa
