Harawira sent another expletive-laden email

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira sent another expletive-laden email threatening Government officials.

The July email caused an uproar in the Maori Party.

A senior official in the Maori Party's parliamentary office said Harawira's swearing was "totally unacceptable" and reflected poorly on the Minister of Maori Affairs and the party.

The email, which was released yesterday under the Official Information Act, was sent by Harawira in response to a brochure prepared for consultation over the Maori flag.

Sent to six Te Puni Kokiri (TPK) officials, it said: "I'm not sure who's responsible for the radical changes to the brochure, but I ain't happy ... I am particularly f...... p..... off that some clown has decided to rebrand the `Maori' flag as the `tino rangatiratanga' flag, when, in fact, it was actually launched as the Maori flag [unless some smart.... can tell you otherwise, and I'll happily argue the case if necessary]."

Harawira wrote that the brochure should be stopped, and a conference call organised for two days later.

"Otherwise, I will publicly expose this as a sham on Monday morning," he wrote.

"As a normal course of events, I expect to get shafted when I'm dealing with bureaucrats, but I don't expect to get shafted over a project that I was leading for the minister.

"No s... folks – either this gets sorted out, and quickly, or I go ape.... on Monday – the day before the launch."

The first response to his email, on a Saturday, was from an unnamed official.

It said: "Suggest we are not able to call it `the Maori flag' as there has never been a consensus by/from Maori.

"Further, it may be perceived that we are pre-empting the outcome of the consultation process."

The tino rangatiratanga flag was announced last week by Prime Minister John Key as the flag chosen to fly alongside the New Zealand flag on Waitangi Day.

It was chosen after nationwide consultation, led by Harawira.

Further emails in response to Harawira's were sent apologising for his language. Helen Leahy, a senior official in the Maori Party, emailed on the Sunday, saying Harawira's email "needs to be dealt with".

"The very least we should expect is that concerns can be relayed about the sustance [sic] of an issue, without abusive language or threats made.

"The six TPK staff should not be expected to receive emails littered with swear words and ultimatums [not that anyone should]."

Leahy said the email reflected on the minister and the party.

After writing the July email, Harawira got into trouble over an email he sent to a colleague regarding an unauthorised trip to Paris.

Harawira could not be reached for comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News