The most concerning aspect of Hone Harawira's inflammatory and immature email outburst is that it has given licence for a tit-for-tat storm of racism.
It doesn't take much, in New Zealand, to ignite an underlying hotbed of grievances and mistrust, and that is what Harawira has done with his foolish tantrum.
His
apology "for swearing" will go no distance toward undoing the damage. It was more than his unparliamentary turn of phrase which has caused offence. Rather, it was the sentiment - the implication of a deep-seated hatred of white people - that will have reignited fears that the Maori Party is a collection of radicals with a separatist agenda.
The party must act quickly to squash this concern if it is not to lose the goodwill and trust it had built up in recent years. And National must be eyeing with some nervousness its links with the Maori Party. Traditional conservative voters will have no truck with Harawira reverting to his attitudes of activism.
It was a remarkable day when the former well-known protester was elected as the MP for Te Tai Tokerau in 2005, being suddenly raised from the role of rebel to a man who could make a difference from the inside of the system.
He came from a radical background - his mother is Titewhai Harawira who famously made Helen Clark cry by challenging her right to speak on Te Tii marae at Waitangi Day celebrations. But Harawira seemed to have adapted to his new position and in the 2008 election increased his majority.
The recent reversion to aggressive and divisive behaviour will be seen by many as a "return to type", and the Maori Party must think carefully about how to escape being tainted by it.
- Laura Franklin, editor
