Hone By Lunchtime

So the indications are that Hone Harawira is to be made to fall on his own sword as a result of the recent 'white mother-f**cker' issue. It appears that the Maori Party have had a belly full of his antics and have suggested if he doesn't resign, he may be expelled from the Maroi party.

This is a clear indication of the simmmering anger that Hone has caused.
Let's look at the ramifications and see the trail of potential destruction Hone Harawira's injudicious actions have left for Maori.

Lying to the Speaker* (see comments below) of the House about why he was AWOL in Paris - with its impact upn the Government alliance between the Maori Party and National. This is a serious issue which as a party matter under any circumstance would require some censure of some kind.

The potentially destabilising effects of Hone Harawira's racially divisive statements during the review and renegotiation of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. Hone Harawira's acts have cast a very ugly sheen over what was set to be the jewel in the crown of Tariana Turia's political career. Yes, I'd be pissed off too.

The impact of Hone Harawira's activities on the cross-racial support of the Maori party. This has to be a worrying factor, because if the Maori Party is to shed accusations that it is a racially divisive or separatist entity, then it has to ask itself whether it can afford to hold on to Hone Harawira.

But I think there is more going on here. Reading between the lines, there appears to be a power struggle between two aspects of Maori rrepresentation. There are two camps. the progressive, alliance-building aspects represented by Turia and Sharples and the divisive activist aspect represented by Harawira. It looks like Hone and his ilk are being sent a message to get out of Dodge.

Even Hone's recent statement 'I think it would take a brave person to tell me to leave the party' spells volumes about his attitude, swagger and probable refusal to toe the Party Line. Coupled with that was I the only person who had to roll their eyes when Hone Harawira's mum was over the airwaves defending her boy's right to express the email but just differed in the choice of words? Evidently the Harawira family consider themselves entitled way beyond the mere limitations of Party Political process. In short, Hone Harawira's statements and actions have indicated that he believes he is not subject to the control of the Maori Party because he is assured of his own support in his own 'fiefdom' of Te Tai Tokerau electorate. This is electorally damaging to the bigger machine.

Has Hone has burned all his bridges? It's starting to look like he has. Unless Hone Harawira can prove he has grown up he will be 'Hone by Lunchtime'.