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The Maori Party will decide on Thursday what action, if any, it will take against its outspoken MP Hone Harawira.
Harawira on Tuesday gave a partial apology for his "white motherf...er" comments made in an email, saying it was wrong to use such abusive language.
He should have instead referred to what European colonisers had done, the MP for Te Tai Tokerau said.
Harawira denied being racist and says his comments were not intended as an attack against all Pakeha.
Immediately after apologising Harawira lashed out at Labour leader Phil Goff saying he was "bastard" who should be "lined up against a wall and shot" for Labour's passage of the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
Maori Party co-leaders Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples said in a statement that they had not met to discuss their MP's latest statements.
A hui will be held on Thursday with the party's senior leaders and Harawira's Tai Tokerau electorate committee to reflect on what happened.
At this meeting collective wisdom would be used to find a "common understanding and joint position", they say.
They will be making no comment prior to this as it might prejudice attempts to find a consensus.
Harawira says his apology is genuine and that he wants to remain a member of the Maori Party.
Goff says Harawira is not fit for Parliament and shrugged off his comments, saying Harawira had failed to address any of the issues.
"There is no contrition there, he is proud of ripping the taxpayer off and he genuinely believes that white people are to blame for all of his problems," Goff says.
He called on the Maori Party leadership and Prime Minister John Key to act as Harawira was not fit to be an MP.
Key says he felt people were a bit sick of the "Hone Harawira sideshow" and there were more important things for him to worry about.
"Firstly his comments were offensive last week. I think New Zealanders were offended by them and so in one sense they will be pleased that there is an apology of sorts," Key says.
"I will leave them to judge the merits of that apology."
Harawira's apology was over language he used in an email to former Waitangi Tribunal director Buddy Mikaere.
Mikaere wrote to Harawira over his decision to leave Brussels, where he was visiting as part of a parliamentary delegation, and instead take his wife to Paris for the day.
Harawira responded: "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."
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Harawira said he had no need to apologise for his comments about Goff.
"I am a Maori Party MP. I got that seat because I took it away from Labour after they stole our foreshore. They have to deal with those demons."
Harawira says he accepted his comments had damaged the party in the view of the public but believed his voters would still back him.
"I sense that Te Tai Tokerau supports me as an MP the way that I
am. I think that's important. They have chosen me, the rebel. They
don't want to see that change," he says.
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.