Cracks in Maori Party unity are widening with leaders deciding to start disciplinary action against MP Hone Harawira.
In a resolution issued to media today its national council said it had decided a complaint against Mr Harawira could not be resolved at a local level and had been referred to the council's disciplinary and disputes committee.
Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell laid the complaint over Mr Harawira's criticism in a newspaper article of the party's support for the Government and polices he said were anti-Maori.
Mr Harawira's Te Tai Tokerau electorate yesterday held a hui that was meant to discuss the complaint but as key critics were not invited, it ended up being a support rally for the MP which concluded with a call for the complaint to be dismissed.
Party president Pem Bird told NZPA this morning that the council had discussed the issue for hours last night before reaching its decision.
Te Tai Tokerau had been given several days to resolve the complaint at electorate level but after yesterday's events both the council and Mr Flavell felt resolution at that level was not possible, he said.
"At the end of the day it's about fairness."
The party co-leaders were not involved in the meeting, he said.
Normally they would have been "but not on this one", he said.
A committee of five to hear the complaint was yet to be selected, he said.
It would consist of "people who are fair, people who are impartial, people who have the skills and experience to do the job and do it fairly and ensure everyone's best interests are safeguarded in the process. We are working though as to who now."
Mr Bird hoped the first hearing could be held during the week starting February 7.
He would not comment on what penalties could be imposed if the complaint was upheld and said the party was taking advice on that.
"This is an opportunity to actually focus on the substance of the complaint, and that hasn't been done."
Mr Harawira told Radio New Zealand he thought the decision was hasty and his electorate had wanted a meeting with the national council.
"What we are talking about there, the national executive, is half a dozen people in a party of 25,000. Now I can absolutely guarantee... that is there's 25,000 in the Maori Party 24,500 of them are not expecting to see one of their MPs thrown out in election year," he said.
Mr Harawira said the National Government's interests were being served.
"I certainly think that the National Party's interests are better served by having their coalition partner, docile, quiet and alongside them doing the sorts of things that National would like to see them do. Smiling with John Key and not making any ructions."
