So, after a week of bad press, the Maori Party has had enough of Hone Harawira, and want him out. This seems a little disproportionate - Hone is a loose cannon and a dick, but his recent behaviour doesn't seem to justify eviction from the party. So what else is going on? Turia's statement is revealing:
This is not just about a jaunt to Paris or bad language. It's been an ongoing issue and it's reached its end, very sadly(Emphasis added)
My guess is that Hone has been calling bullshit on the Maori Party's increasingly subservient relationship with National and its support for policies which directly harm his constituents. And the leadership - which does very well out of that relationship, thankyou, with crown limos and a flag and a sense of utu - doesn't want to put up with him rocking the boat anymore. In a sense, he's being sacrificed to preserve Turia's relationship with John Key.
