Maori Party admits Harawira fallout

ROSS GIBLIN/ The Dominion Post

MEA CULPA: Maori Party MP Hone Harawira's written apology said his remarks were senseless and had "derailed'' much of the party's credibility.

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The Maori Party has acknowledged the controversy surrounding Hone Harawira damaged the party and it will take time to mend bridges.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said it had been a "traumatic" time for the party but denied he and co-leader Tariana Turia had been rolled by the party membership after Mr Harawira yesterday escaped with an apology.

The pair had earlier taken a hard line against Mr Harawira's "white motherf...ers" outburst, but Dr Sharples said yesterday they had accepted his apology and were ready to move on.

Their hand appears to have been forced after Mr Harawira called their bluff and rejected a suggestion from Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata that he quit and stay on in Parliament as an independent MP.

His stance had the backing of grassroots members, who made it clear they did not want Mr Harawira to go.

Mr Harawira landed in hot water over an email referring to white people as "motherf...ers" and defending an unauthorised trip to Paris while in Europe on taxpayer-funded business.

In an apology read out yesterday, Mr Harawira said his comments were senseless and had "derailed" much of the Maori Party's credibility.

He also apologised for the "bad example" his behaviour set for young Maori and acknowledged his outburst was "insensitive, hurtful and unnecessary".

But his punishment appears to fall a long way short of earlier expectations that he would make the apology in Parliament – and he has instead been given the rest of the year off from Wellington to spend time with his constituents in Te Tai Tokerau.

He also refused to accept that his comments were racist.

Dr Sharples would not answer when asked if he considered Mr Harawira's comments racist.

"I'm not going to talk about that. He's apologised. It was an unqualified apology."

But Prime Minister John Key made it clear he did not consider Mr Harawira's apology had gone far enough, saying his comments were "racist" and hurtful and had "set back race relations".

Mr Harawira would have to prove to the public that he "meant his apology and that he's going to change his ways".

Mr Harawira's punishment was decided after a hui that went late into the night on Tuesday and Dr Sharples acknowledged the affair had tested the party.

He accepted it had also done the party some damage.

"Of course [it has] ... and we will repair that damage because we have spent four years building bridges and creating goodwill amongst Maori and Pakeha."

Sending him back to Te Tai Tokerau for the next few weeks, meanwhile, would be good value because it would give Mr Harawira a chance to listen to his elders.

Mr Harawira appears to be set for more responsibilities once he returns to Wellington.

Dr Sharples said he would take up "some of the opportunities and the work provided under our portfolios as ministers", as his caucus colleagues already did.

- © Fairfax NZ News