Hone Harawira will square up for a debate with the new ACT Party leader Don Brash tonight.



The breakaway MP has meanwhile been forced to push back his controversial resignation from Parliament until next week.



Harawira is set to appear on TVNZ's Close Up show tonight to clash with Brash.

Harawira has compared Brash to Hitler, claiming that the new ACT leader aims "to destroy the culture that is indigenous to this land".



Harawira supporter and Maori academic Malcolm Mulholland this morning said criticism of the cost of the by-election sparked by Harawira's resignation could be taken on the chin. But questions should also be asked about the "undemocratic" takeover of the ACT Party.



"Okay so it's $500K to run the by-election for Hone, but nobody is asking questions about the process of democracy within ACT," Mulholland said.



"You've got one elected person from an electorate within ACT, that's Rodney Hide and he gets rolled. And also you've got Brash talking to Key about who should be a minister and who shouldn't and Brash hasn't had one vote for him."



Harawira launched his new Mana Party at the weekend and announced he would resign as the MP for Te Tai Tokerau, forcing a by-election seven months out from the general election.



The former Maori Party MP faces a race against time to get his new party officially registered before resigning to trigger the by-election. His resignation must be received by May 26 for the by-election to go ahead.

Mulholland this morning said the Mana Party had over the required 500 members and would be registered with the Electoral Commission by the end of the week. Harawira would then resign early next week.



Labour, National and the Greens have dismissed the by-election as a stunt. However, Labour could stand a candidate in the by-election and the Maori Party said this morning it would hold hui in the Far North electorate this weekend about standing a candidate.



President Pem Bird said there was a "humble majority" in the electorate that wanted to discuss fighting a by-election.



"We want to know from our supporters in Te Tai Tokerau how we can best represent them," Bird said.



"Regardless of whether or not we stand a candidate in a yet-to-be-confirmed by-election, we must strengthen our party's infrastructure in the north."



Two hui would be held on Sunday at Waitangi Marae in the Bay of Islands, followed by Hoani Waititi Marae in Waitakere.



Bird said the hui would be open to supporters of the Maori Party and would be attended by party co-leader Pita Sharples, fellow MP Te Ururoa Flavell as well as one of the co-vice presidents, Te Orohi Paul.