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Labour Party leader Phil Goff is demanding stern punishment for under-fire MP Hone Harawira.
After his apology for an offensively worded email , Harawira went on to say the Labour leader "should be put up against a wall and shot" for supporting the foreshore and seabed legislation.
Goff says Harawira is not fit for Parliament and shrugged off his comments, saying Harawira had failed to address any of the issues.
"The attitudes behind his statements, not simply the language, have no place in New Zealand politics," he says.
"He's got to be held accountable for what he did, no excuses."
"When you come out and you make a comment like that, where you brand a whole ethnic group in this country in the most obscene and vile way, and then apologise for the language, but not for the meaning, there is no place in parliament for that," he says.
Goff says both the Maori Party and the Prime Minister need to take a firm-line with the Te Tai Tokerau MP.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission says it has received a record 220 complaints about Harawira's recent controversial racial comments.
The race relations commissioner says while the complaints are being considered, the Maori Party should also be taking some action.
"There has to be a publicly acceptable statement by the Maori Party, that this action by Hone Harawira was contrary to its values," he says.
It is expected Maori Party leadership will decide at a Hui on
Wednesday on any disciplinary action against the MP.
You can read Hone Harawira's email in full
here
AUDIO: Listen to
Hone Harawira's comments about Phill Goff (0:31)
WARNING CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE
How do you feel about Hone Harawira's apology and his comments?
Share your opinion on our message board below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentGreg Cramond said on 2011-01-28 @ 19:02 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hone was in Kitimat (Canada) for a conference for American Indian Nations, did his usual racist rant and blamed white people for everything wrong and then left after being presented with the indian name of walking eagle... This means 'one so full of sh!t, he can not fly'. Hone, give it up mate, you look like an idiot... It is New Zealand, not Whites and Maoris, Us and Them, people like you incite racism... Let it go... Bro!
Rog said on 2009-12-02 @ 09:45 NZDT: Report abusive post
Harawira should look at the history of his own race before criticising others. They stole land from, raped, murdered and ate their own people when they felt like it. He should read the book "This Horrid Practice" by Paul Moon plus accounts in the National Archives of Maori history.
shiloh said on 2009-11-30 @ 07:52 NZDT: Report abusive post
It looks as though they are waiting for all the racist hype to quiten down, and then keep him on in the party. Mind you... when you think about it, if they kick him out, the Maori party will have to deal with the wrath of Hone's fans. And if they keep him, they have the rest of the country to deal with!! GET RID OF HIM! NZ has no room for racist politicians.
paulmmmm said on 2009-11-29 @ 18:18 NZDT: Report abusive post
Being in New Zealand from Australia to witness Hone's spectacular racist and stupid remarks was fascinating. Do they help even if true? Hone, I wish you and your people all the best. At least the Maoris have a political party - Australian Aboriginies do not.
Zanziabar said on 2009-11-29 @ 18:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
This is completely unacceptable, this is a truly horrendous double-standard applied to this entire political circus. As it has been pointed out before, If a Pakeha MP was to make the same comment about Maori then he would be expelled. Instead, We get a maori party unable to face up to it's responsibilities as a political party. Mark my words, there will be massive public outrage if he isn't expelled from his causcus.