Labour rejection of Tamihere unusual - Dover Samuels

Former Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels says a decision to deny John Tamihere membership of the Labour Party will come at a cost. Mr Tamihere, a former Labour MP and cabinet minister, who wants to run as an independent for the Auckland mayoralty, had his application to renew his membership rejected - and he says he's yet to be given a reason. Mr Samuels was at a meeting of Labour's Maori council - Te Kaunihera Maori - at Waitangi where Mr Tamihere's situation was discussed. He told our political reporter Jo Moir the Labour Party will lose Maori support over its decision.