This follows Te Ururoa Flavells challenge for Pita Sharples co-leadership role of the party which ended unsuccessfully for him as Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples will remain co-leaders of the Party following a meeting over the issue at Rātana.
This was just one of the many political issues that arose at the event this year as they have for generations New Zealand politicians descended on the settlement.
Above all others opposition parties took the opportunity and used the uncertainty of the leadership as ammunition to launch their attacks and promote their own agendas with Winston Peters of New Zealand First accusing the party of disrespecting Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana’s birthday celebrations with it’s unseemly ‘squabble’.
Mana Party Leader Hone Harawira also joined the frey and took a swipe at his former colleagues claiming the Party had lost its way and was more concerned about personal gain than the people they represent.
However Turia is adamant there are no issues within her party and things are progressing smoothly .
Reassurances aside a long time broadcaster of politics, Henare Kingi believes if these issues are not sorted swiftly the Māori Party will lose support leading up to the next election.
So for now Sharples and Turia will continue to work together as co-leaders of the Māori Party for the next 8 weeks at which point another meeting will take place. Despite assurances of no internal fighting the tension seems likely to continue when MPs return to Parliament next week.