By EUGENE BINGHAM
Political foes Richard Prebble and John Tamihere traded verbal punches in Parliament yesterday amid claims of racism and misuse of public money.
Two other MPs were thrown out of the House during the uproar, which followed the Act leader's attack on Mr Tamihere over allegations of misuse of public money by the Waipareira Trust.
Mr Tamihere, the high-flying Labour MP for Hauraki who resigned as head of the West Auckland trust to run for Parliament last year, retaliated with a savage accusation of his own.
"I'm sick and tired of the malice and the premeditated racism practised by this member," he yelled across Parliament's debating chamber, pointing his finger at Mr Prebble.
The tense exchange between the pair had been brewing for two weeks since Act first went on the attack over operations at the trust during Mr Tamihere's time as chief executive.
Meanwhile, the present chief executive of Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust, Ian Mackintosh, said that information relating to the allegations had been passed on to the Serious Fraud Office.
The information relates to accusations that the trust diverted $200,000 of Health Funding Authority money into an account belonging to the Aotearoa Maori Rugby Football League.
The authority has blamed clerical errors within the trust. "It's really out of our hands now, but we are very satisfied with what we've been able to reconcile," Mr Mackintosh said.
The row in Parliament flared yesterday after revelations that Work and Income was conducting an inquiry into the trust's Henderson-based employment centre.
The Auditor-General's office is also looking at aspects of the trust's operation.
Mr Tamihere denied any wrongdoing and defended the trust.
It emerged last night that he has given written assurances to the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, saying he would be exonerated in any investigation.
He told the Herald he provided the letter three weeks ago after copies of documents containing the accusations were faxed to Helen Clark.
"I went through the allegations point by point, indicating their lack of substance, lack of veracity, and indicating that Prebble knows they are unsubstantiated allegations," Mr Tamihere said.
During Parliament's question time yesterday, Mr Prebble disputed Mr Tamihere's right to chair the Maori affairs select committee while the inquiries were under way.
After being challenged over whether he was allowed to ask the question, Mr Prebble detailed some of the allegations and also referred to a court case subject to a suppression order.
Later, during a debate between the pair on Holmes, they discussed the details of a man whose identity was suppressed by the High Court.
The two continued their feud during the Holmes debate, throwing accusations at each other as they sat side by side in the studio.
In Parliament, Mr Tamihere thundered against Mr Prebble and accused him of misleading Parliament.
"He has made a number of allegations in the House - repeat them outside it."
The debating chamber roared as Mr Tamihere made the racism charge against Mr Prebble.
Labour cabinet minister Trevor Mallard entered the fray and was forced to apologise after saying Mr Prebble was "playing the race card." He was then tossed out for repeating it.
In the charged atmosphere, former Finance Minister Bill English hurled an insult at Mr Mallard, only to be thrown out of the debating chamber himself by Speaker Jonathan Hunt.
Helen Clark last night stood by Mr Tamihere, saying he was a talented MP who should be left to get on with his job.
Uproar as pair trade insults
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