NZPA

Harawira to face hui

NZPA November 9, 2009, 6:19 am

A hui on Thursday will decide how Maori Party MP Hone Harawira can atone for skipping off to Paris while on a parliamentary trip to Brussels and then responding to criticism with an offensive outburst.

The party leadership decided yesterday it wasn't going to sack him but appears to at least expect a public apology from the Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) MP.

"I think he will find a way to apologise to the nation," said party president Whatarangi Winiata.

"We will help him do that."

Prof Winiata said a hui, probably on Thursday afternoon, would bring together Mr Harawira, the party leadership and members of the Te Tai Tokerau electorate committee.

"Obviously it is in everyone's interests to address the concerns swiftly," he said.

"We acknowledge the severity of this situation -- the hurt that has been caused by Mr Harawira's outburst, and we seek to remedy this."

He went on to describe the MP as a creative, talented, intelligent and energetic person who "has the potential" to be a very effective politician.

Mr 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 Mr Harawira an email questioning the Paris trip.

In response, Mr 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."

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres received more than 20 complaints about the email but said yesterday Mr Harawira's language did not breach to Human Rights Act.

Mr de Bres said the language was offensive but it was freedom of speech and not action would be taken over it.

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53 Comments

  1. Victor 10:59am Tuesday 10th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    What the hell is this country coming too? These is NO ROOM for these RACISTS in govt. John Key, do something about it. It now seems all too true that the majority of MAORI are FAR MORE RACIST than ANY other culture within New Zealand - thats what your precious Maori Party does for you. OUT WITH HONE HARAWIRA, NO ROOM FOR RACISTS. Give him one more free trip, a one way ticket to timbucktoo.

  2. bees_pop 12:59pm Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    KEY wont get rid of the racist because he hasnt got the guts to stand up to them why dont they send harawira and his relations to fiji he would fit in their quite well

  3. crystal.nicol 12:36pm Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    WAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A WHITE MAN SAID DAT ABOT THE BLACK MAN B A BLOODY WAR SACK HIM

  4. pubsternz 11:10am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    The maori party AKA Gimme gimme gimme party are nothing but a bunch of worms eyed viewed pack of winging Fn idiots Waste of space and of course tax payers money.Save the First past the post...

  5. coromega 10:38am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    The only real Maori MP is Winston Peters, were are you the country needs you. At least he is Honest and not racist .

  6. Real Kiwi 10:34am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    If the maori had their way there would be 2 laws 2 justice systems and the white man had his side of the road and theres the other, we would be a split nation. they think they can do what thay like say what they like and hide behind there rights.

  7. coromega 10:31am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    right, the maori party will do nothing, No Bulls that party, Cant wait to get rid of MMP and the maori party bunch of wimps, they are out to look after themselfs and thats it, just remember its not your country you wernt here 1st. remember who pays your treaty money. shame you dont help your needy with it. he and his party must be racist. After those comements from an MP im now racist toward them. John Key should have grown Bulls and kicked him out or the so called speaker of the House.

  8. pubsternz 09:59am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    Harawira your an arogant arse hole F U Sambro Sack him hes a pigOh and shove your shallow apologee up your arse Hope you get dealt to fn idiot.Save the Snails....

  9. missyangus 09:56am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    what he really thinks has come out and no amount of knee bending or apologising is going to change that and the way he thinks. The damage is done, both to himself and his party, he has made an already worrying situation in this country a lot worse. Is this really what New Zealanders want or need. I was bought up in the 60's that we are all New Zealander's and should be proud of it, red, pink or blue skined it doesn't matter, we are all human. I am really sorry and afrai ...

  10. Jo and Jack 09:52am Monday 09th November 2009 NZDT Report Abuse

    Get Rid of him! Man up John Key and fire the Maori party. They condone what he has done and are now going to "Help him" make an apology.... What a joke! The Maori party are pathetic , they condone his actions and support him therefore they are a racist party who we dont need in NZ. Any "white" man making the same remarks would be sacked immediatly. This country is going to the pack with too much PC! Sort it out before its too late.

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