Maori Party Wars
Willie Jackson Opinion
Friday, 9th December, 2011
Opinion: It's beyond belief that Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell and Maori Party president Pem Bird could be so foolish as to be plotting a coup against co-leader Pita Sharples.
When asked by a TVNZ reporter about a possible change of leadership for the Maori Party, Bird said it was an "open secret" and implied it was a fait accompli that Flavell was about to take over the leadership.
Flavell added that if he did become leader he would expect a ministerial portfolio and this has sent shock waves through the Maori world.
Sharples has been the crossover man for the Maori Party.
When it first emerged it was labelled racist and separatist, it was Sharples who was able to generate mainstream New Zealanders' support.
He was seen as non-threatening, unlike Hone Harawira and co-leader Tariana Turia, who had made their mark as activists and MPs who never shirked away from condemning racism in this country or anywhere else.
Who will ever forget, for example, Harawira quite rightly calling the Australian Prime Minister John Howard a racist or Turia supporting Maori when she compared their colonisation experience to the Jewish holocaust?
These comments sparked huge outrage and Pakeha New Zealanders demanded their resignations.
Never has Sharples found himself in any such controversy.
For some reason he makes Pakeha feel safe.
He's seen as the grandfather of New Zealand politicians.
He was even labelled the sexiest at one stage and his friendship with Prime Minister John Key has helped improve the Maori Party's image with Pakeha.
He would have been looking to finish his political career in style as the Minister of Maori Affairs but that is now under threat because of the current challenge.
Te Ururoa Flavell has been a loyal, solid but un-spectacular MP.
To his credit he survived a ferocious challenge for his seat from Mana's warrior queen Annette Sykes.
So he probably thinks now is as good a time as any to step up to the top job.
But he has seriously misjudged the situation.
The Maori Party has already been punished and lost thousands of votes because of its fight with Hone Harawira and Mana.
If there is a war within the Maori Party over Sharples' leadership and he is removed as Minister of Maori Affairs in favour of Flavell, it could well signal the beginning of the end for the party.
I will be very surprised if a compromise position is not reached over the next few weeks which might mean that Flavell is gradually phased in as co-leader or becomes co-leader now and Sharples retains the minister's role.
Any other decision would be political suicide.
Next Article: Its Shearer's job