Hone Harawira has left the Maori Party

Hone Harawira and the Maori Party have split for good, odds of a far left party are becoming increasingly real. http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/harawira-quits-maori-party-4039175

Hone Harawira quits Maori Party

‎"Mr Harawira said he had promised not to stand against the Maori Party in any
other electorates in November.

In return its leadership had agreed not to stand a
candidate against him in Te Tai Tokerau, he said."

That quote is very telling, it strongly indicates he will not stay an independent but will form another party around him otherwise why else would he agree not to stand outside Te Tai Tokerau?

Because obviously he would choose to stand in Te Tai Tokerau himself! Thus the agreement is referring to any future party he might be part of creating.

And unless Labour (or National! ha) can take Te Tai Tokerau then any new party that decides to form with him will be able to bypass the 5% threshold (which I personal believe should be abolished).

Gang Influence and Corruption in the Maori Party?

Minister was warned gang would re-occupy seized HQ

Papers released under the Official Information Act reveal that Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples stepped in to try to stop any demolition because the gang pad caters for the "spiritual and cultural needs" of Maori.

The MP wrote to the Auckland City Council asking staff to ignore the illegal structures and to grant a waiver for breaches of the district plan.

At the time, the new owner was in negotiations to sell the property to a trust connected to Dr Sharples' Tamaki Makarau electorate manager, Martin Cooper.

Mr Cooper is a former Black Power president who used to own the Jolson Rd property through the Piki Mai Trust.

In the letter, the Maori Affairs Minister said he attended a hui at the Black Power headquarters in 2005 with Tariana Turia as co-leaders of the Maori Party and that "the whare catered for the spiritual and cultural needs of our hui".