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The Prime Minister's backing the Maori Party's action on Hone Harawira.
At a hui in Harawira's electorate on Thursday party president Professor Whatarangi Winiata said its elders did not know how to handle him and it might be best if they parted ways.
He said Harawira had posed problems for the party
"We would like him to be a member of the party, so long as he does not destroy the party.
"We know he is a good speaker and an analyst, but we just haven't known how to manage him."
Speaking from Singapore, where he's attending the Apec summit, John Key says the party is showing leadership with the rebuke.
He believes Harawira's controversial comments don't reflect the leadership of the Maori Party, and they are offended by them the way that he and a lot of other New Zealanders are.
Meanwhile, Harawira says he wants to stay with the Maori Party and has called the suggestion he leave the party "the silliest idea I've heard".
The Te Tai Tokerau MP says nothing has changed and has no intention of leaving the Party.
He is in no doubt that is where his future lay, and he is heartened with the huge level of support he has received from the people in his electorate.
Harawira says he intends to return to Parliament with "all guns blazing".
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters leapt on the Maori Party's troubles saying it should have instantly expelled Harawira for his "outrageous racist behaviour".
Peters used a speech to Grey Power in Wanganui on Thursday to attack Harawira .
"They reveal his absurd sense of entitlement -- in his world, a Maori is entitled to flaunt conventions of behaviour and pick and choose what rules to follow or disregard," Peters said.
"When an MP can vilify other New Zealanders on an overtly racial basis - and not be instantly dismissed from his party - we are in deeply dangerous territory."
