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Controversial MP Hone Harawira is expected to apologise on
Tuesday for making racist comments while defending his recent
sightseeing trip to paris.
Pressure has been mounting on the Maori Party MP to apologise since
his side-trip to Paris while on a taxpayer-funded visit to Europe,
and over an offensive email he sent to a party supporter who
criticised the trip.
The Maori Party leadership says they would like the Te Tai Tokerau
MP to apologise to the country, but say they can't and won't force
him to. They say he won't be expelled from the party.
"An apology is something from the heart and the mind and I'm not going to tell someone they have to apologise," says party co-leader Pita Sharples.
"I can say it's my wish that they would but you can't order someone to apologise."
Harawira has called a news conference at Auckland University's Waipapa Marae at 3pm on Tuesday afternoon.
He has also been scheduled to appear in some radio interviews during the day.
On Monday, Prime Minister John Key said Harawira should apologise for his outburst.
"I definitely think he owes a bit of an apology," he says.
"It's for the Maori Party leadership to sort that out, and I have got to say they are doing their best to try and deal with that situation."
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres says he also is hoping for a public apology from Harawira.
He has received something in the order of 200 complaints about the email and it's obvious there's widespread concern about it.
He says not only should Harawira apologise, but the Maori Party should take some action to discipline him.
Harawira was part of a parliamentary delegation visiting Europe when he decided to leave Brussels and take his wife to Paris for the day.
He was unrepentant about that, saying he paid for it himself, but he is reported to have misled Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia over it.
Subsequently, former Waitangi Tribunal director Buddy Mikaere sent Harawira an email questioning the Paris trip.
In response, Harawira sent an email saying: "Gee Buddy, do you believe that white man's bullshit too? White motherf...ers have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries and all of a sudden you want me to play along with their puritanical bullshit."
You can read Hone Harawira's email in full here
How do you feel about Hone Harawira's sightseeing trip
to Paris and his reaction to the criticism? 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.