02 June 2013 Coming up on Te Karere... Who will lead the Maori Party? Has Te Ururoa Flavell got what it takes to uphold the mantle? So what happens to Pita Sharples now that he's standing down as Maori Party co-leader? Which international competition has Aotearoa's premiere kapa haka Te Waka Huia flown to? Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Pita Sharples has confirmed he is stepping down as co-leader of the Maori Party insisting the decision was of his own volition and he was not pushed. The Maori Party presented a united front at a packed press conference at Parliament this morning where Sharples admitted the uncertainty over the leadership had taken a toll on his party. The vexed question over who will take his place will be decided in a fortnight at the Maori Party's AGM, but the Waiariki electorate are adamant that Te Ururoa Flavell is poised and ready to lead them. Our reporter Kereama Wright has been gauging reaction from Flavell's electorate and joins us now. We're unable to provide subtitles. Sharples has spoken, much to the disappointment of some of the Waiariki electorate. He's achieved a lot over the years as co-leader, but as they say, when one's time is up, another comes through. Sharples says his resignation is based on a desire for party unity. A party that has recently been divided by leadership differences. I feel for him, but I'm glad to see his priority is for the survival of the Maori Party. Waiariki Maori Party voters say Flavell is their preferred leader. Despite some saying he lacks the x-factor, and steel needed by a political leader. Only time will tell, but for those of us of Te Waiariki, he remains staunch to the old ways, to marae, iwi and hapu protocols. He has the potential to bring people in to whatever project or issue. He'll have a lot of lessons to learn on the way, but for now, there's probably no one better for the job. They were also quick to deny the Maori Party is on its way out. But didn't dismiss support or a possible merge with the Mana Party. There's a lot of people who aren't for it, but who knows? It's a possible resolution at next week's AGM to be held in Whakatane, where a new co-leader could also be elected. We're unable to provide subtitles. Thank you Kereama Wright, live from Rotorua. Pita Sharples says it was a hard decision to make but one that needed to be done after stepping down from his role as the Maori Party co-leader. He will remain as the Minister of Maori Affairs till closer to the election next year. Our political reporter Irena Smith has the story. It's a sad day for Pita Sharples, but the step down from leadership was overdue. He maintains his decision to step down wasn't due to their loss at the by-election. The Prime Minister says he supports all of the Maori Party's decisions on this, and then remain in a coalition until the election next year. So both the party leaders will leave now at the same time, which begs the question, who will replace them? If Te Ururoa Flavell should get the nod, will he have the same cross-over appeal that Pita Sharples enjoys? But Shane Jones says the Maori Party won't survive this. The Maori Party won't last. I would like for Te Ururoa to come to us of the Labour Party, but that's up to him. But I think this is the end of the Maori Party. The Maori Party knows they need new blood, but the time has come to make way for the new. Irena Smith, Te Karere. Earlier today Te Ururoa Flavell expressed his sorrow over the resignation of Pita Sharples and wouldn't be drawn on taking up the co-leadership of the Maori Party. But his leadership ambitions are well documented and earlier this year after launching a leadership bid he threatened to quit politics should he not be leader before the next election. I spoke with Te Ururoa Flavell earlier and asked him again. Does he want the Maori Party co-leadership? We're unable to provide subtitles. That was Te Ururoa Flavell of the Maori Party. Aotearoa's champion kapa haka Te Waka Huia has left for San Francisco to promote NZ at the America's Cup. Kapa haka is just one of the attractions being used to sell our country over there and to support Team Emmirates NZ. Te Waka Huia will be performing twice a day to America's Cup crowds. I'd like to acknowledge the organisers of Te Matatini. They helped organise this trip. So I'd like to say thank you to Herewini and his team. Te Waka Maori pavilion will also be there to promote NZ. The America's Cup begins on July 4 and goes until September 21. After the break, new Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri takes a look around Parliament. And former beauty queen Maureen Waaka returns to her marae to lie until her final burial. Buck Shelford. Buck Shelford. Hi. You're here for the heart and diabetes TV ad? You're here for the heart and diabetes TV ad? Yeah. Of course. Of course. What do you mean? Well, heart disease and diabetes kill more than 6000 Kiwis every year. I know. I know. So, I'm a woman ` fat and funny ` and you're a... ex-All Black ` not so funny. So? So? So we've got all of the demographics covered. Not all of them. Not all of them. Oh, hey, guys. Not all of them. Oh, hey, guys. Boom. PEOPLE CHATTER Before the break, Waiariki MP and potential Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell confirmed it's time for the Maori Party to discuss whether it should work with Hone Harawira. It's a turnabout that comes after the Maori Party's embarrassing defeat behind Labour and Mana at the weekend's by-election. If you missed it, take a look at what Te Ururoa Flavell told us earlier. So for his take on what's going on, I'm joined by Mana Party leader Hone Harawira. Te Ururoa Flavell isn't confirming anything, but if the Maori Party were to discuss merging with Mana at their AGM in two weeks, would you like that? We're unable to provide subtitles. Hone Harawira, thank you for your time. Former beauty queen Maureen Waaka is now at her home marae of Te Papaiouru, Rotorua. She was taken there yesterday afternoon. She was the first Maori woman to win the Miss New Zealand crown in 1962. She suffered a stroke last month. She died at Rotorua Hospital. Her funeral will be at Te Papaiouru Marae from 11am on Thursday. The new Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP, Meka Whaitiri was at parliament today checking out her new work place. Peata Melbourne was with her. Labour Maori caucus members accompanying her on the red carpet today for her debut appearance as a Parliamentary member. Six intensive weeks of campaigning, Six intensive weeks of campaigning, but no sign yet of what portfolio's she'll be heading. The confidence levels amongst Labour members clearly boosted The confidence levels amongst Labour members clearly boosted The confidence levels amongst Labour members clearly boosted after Whaitiri's Ikaroa Rawhiti win by almost 2000 votes. We're all pleased that Meka's representing us, We're all pleased that Meka's representing us, and we're warning everyone now to watch out because we'll be taking all the seats. Labour will no doubt capitalise on the boost from Whaitiri with eyes now turned towards the Te Waipounamu electorate. Meanwhile Whaitiri adjusting to the gruelling of journalist, cameras and their reports. In the world of politics if you can boost your party support votes, no doubt you'll walk confidently in to the next election, and who knows what that will hold. Peata Melbourne, Te Karere. After the break, we return to the Maori Language Week theme, Maori place names. And we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. And back to the Maori Language Week theme for this year, Maori place names. The name Piopiotahi stretches from the ancient times, when the ancestor Maui was striving to attain immortality for all mankind. But when he was not successful, he died in the attempt and a single piopio bird flew by to mourn for him. This name means the lone piopio. The largest Maori settlement in Westland in the 1840s was at Mawhera. Greenstone was plentiful in the district There are many histories about the origins of the name Whakatuu. However one tradition states that the longstanding residents of the district advised a group of newly arrived people to take up residence, and to 'whakatu', to build their homes near the nests of the seabirds. The origin of the name Timaru is disputed by some, who say it derives from the Maori term, Te Tihi o Maru, which means at the peak of Maru, a Maori ancestor. Te Potiki Tautahi was one of the original Ngai Tahu people to settle in the Canterbury region. At that time, the swampy flatlands of the present day site of Christchurch City were abundant with food such as duck, weka, eel and small fish. That's all we have for today. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ on Air.