PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE DISCIPLINARY AND DISPUTES COMMITTEE OF THE MĀORI PARTY NATIONAL COUNCIL

22 February 2011

The Disciplinary and Disputes Committee of the Māori Party National Council yesterday reconvened its formal hearing to try and resolve the complaint made by Te Ururoa Flavell about Hone Harawira on 18 January 2011

The Committee noted that Mr Harawira had had many opportunities to respond to the complaint, and that he had said a great deal. The Committee also noted that Mr Harawira and the Tai Tokerau electorate had sought and been granted several extensions of time in the dispute resolution process to date. The Committee considered that Mr Harawira had been accorded full rights to natural justice.

The Committee is required by clause 11.3 of the Māori Party constitution to “act swiftly” to seek resolution of the complaint, in accordance with the kaupapa of the Māori Party and its constitution.

Accordingly, with great sadness, and after many hours of deliberation, a quorum of the Committee resolved unanimously that the complaint was not resolved at the hearing or at any of the previous hearings, and that there did not appear to be any way of resolving the complaint besides cancelling Mr Harawira’s membership of the Māori Party.

Under clause 3.7 of the Māori Party Constitution, the Māori Party National Council is the only body capable of taking a decision to cancel Party membership. The Committee has therefore referred the complaint back to the Māori Party National Council, together with a full report of its resolution.

The Chair of the Committee will be briefing the National Council when it meets on Wednesday and go through all of the responses and evidence submitted by the parties. But Te Orohi Paul will not vote at the National Council.

The complainant has been advised of the outcome, as required by clause 11.4 of the Māori Party Constitution. Mr Harawira has also been advised of the outcome.

Te Orohi Paul

Chair, Disciplinary and Disputes Committee,

Māori Party National Council.

ENDS

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