Maori Party discipline process “a shambles” says academic

AUT Professor of History, Dr. Paul Moon, has labelled the Maori Party’s
disciplining of its Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawera as a shambles.

“This so-called process is taking on the appearance of a sore that will
not heal. As a consequence, there is immense damage being done to the
Party, and to Harawera”, says Dr. Moon. “There should have been a
transparent process built into the Party’s constitution, but it looks
like in the euphoria of the Party’s formation, no-one imagined that a
situation such as this might one day arise”.

Dr. Moon says that regardless of the rights or wrongs of the Maori
Party’s position on one of its MPs, the Party has caused itself
serious damage by not dealing with the matter swiftly.

“It looks like a decision on Mr Harawira’s future will be reached in the
next five days”, says Dr Moon, “but this is only after weeks of public
sniping, and uncertainty over when a decision will be reached. This has
done nothing for beneficial any of those involved”.

“The effect this has on Maori supporters cannot be understated”, says
Dr. Moon. “Many have given generously of their time and money, and to
see ‘their’ party fracture such a public and prolonged way will be very
disheartening”.

ends

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