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Source: ONE News -
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The pressure on Maori Party MP Hone Harawira continues to mount.
Prime Minister John Key says he should apologise for making racist comments about Pakeha when defending his sightseeing trip to Paris.
But Harawira remains defiant.
In Europe on official parliamentary business the rebel MP skipped a day of meetings to go sightseeing in Paris. He then labelled criticism of his actions as "white man's bullsh*t" and said "white motherf***ers have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries".
So far his apology over the email has been highly qualified.
"The use of some of my terminology was inappropriate and I apologise for that. I do not resile from the sentiments expressed in the email," says Harawira.
Key says that sentiment had a "tinge of racism".
"My view is that racism goes both ways," he says.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says it is all about opinion.
"I spent eight years in race relations and the racist behaviour was what I didn't like - when you turn that into actions discriminating against somebody into an act," he says.
However, Sharples concedes abusive language can still count as abuse.
"It is verbal abuse, is a form of abuse and it should not be directed at a person but rather at the kaupapa or the issue," he says.
Key acknowledges that Harawira is a "shock jock MP".
"He says things which are completely outrageous," he says.
"People, generally speaking, don't mind that except when they cross the line and in this one it got over the line."
Whether Harawira can step back into line should be revealed at a Maori Party hui on Thursday.
