Maori Party co-Leader Pita Sharples announced his resignation from the party in an early morning press conference held in his office. With him during his announcement was co-leader Tariana Turia and MP Uriroa Flavell.

With a heavy heart revealed through his voice he said, "It's clear that the leadership issue and the processes around that have taken a toll on the Maori Party, and our people, our party people, and supporters deserve a unified Maori Party."

He said that he wanted to help provide stability until after Ms Turia stood down, but according to him, "no individual is bigger than the party going forward."

He put emphasis on the fact that his resignation aimed primarily "for the purpose of unity."

Mr Sharples will still continue with his responsibility up until the national council decided on a new co-leader to be announced at the party conference in Whakatane at the end of next week. He said that he made his resignation ahead of the conference for the Maori Party to "look forward, rather than looking back, and plan for the future."

"I hope that the people can see I am prepared to do the best for the kaupapa because it's about kaupapa, including stepping back to allow others to come through and I'm proud of what we've achieved."

Although the disunity within the party was blatant, Mr Sharples denied that he was pushed out from the party.

"It's about perceptions and sometimes people think we're at each other's throats (but) I never felt pushed. I made this decision because I have to think about what is best for the party; otherwise I'd be kidding myself."

For Mr Sharples, his resignation was not the end of the Maori era but rather, "the end of the first burst."

He also denied that his decision to resign was provoked by the poor showing in Saturday's by-election but rather because the leadership issue was harming the party.

He said that more than anything else, at his age, wanted to spend more time with his family.

Ms Turia, who announced his retirement for 2014, was asked whether Mr Sharples should have made the decision earlier. She said, "I think it's the right decision, we know that we've been looking... to grow another lot of people to come through. The majority of our people are under 35 years of age. We believe we need that voice to come through."

Supporting Mr Sharples desire to unite the party, Ms Turia said that the perfect timing has come for the Maori Party to show its united front.

"In the end, our people have to decide whether they want to continue living in a state of activism, always fighting on the sidelines, or whether they want a political movement that is progressing their issues, and that is what the Maori party stands for. What we have got to do is work hard to restore their faith, to show them the progress they have made must continue, and we believe that they will support that going into the next election."