Disappointed but not surprised

Hone Harawira Leader, MANA MP, Tai Tokerau

"I'm disappointed, but to tell the truth, I'm not surprised," said Hone Harawira, MANA Leader and MP for Tai Tokerau, of the Maori Party's refusal to discuss a truce.

"I asked for a truce when I first left because Maori Party members didn't want us to a fight. Their leaders agreed at first, then turned their back on it by standing against me in the by-election, only to see their 12,000 majority wiped out.

"But even after that I was still getting calls from Maori pleading with me to try once more, so I offered the olive branch once again only to have it snatched from my hand by the leaders of the Maori Party and tossed into the dirt a second time.

"Our people have been very clear on this - they would rather we walked together in peace than fought at the ballot box - but the Maori Party leaders have again refused to heed the pleas of their people, and quite frankly, I think it's time we moved on.

"I'm going on a national MANA tour over the next few weeks to talk to the members about which seats they think we should be standing in, both Maori and General, and who would be the best candidates.

"I am really looking forward to those meetings because they are about building a new future, and I urge as many people as possible to sign up and join with us as we move to change the world.

ENDS

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