Reality TV personality Julia Sloane talks about RHOA and book publishing.
Controversial Real Housewives of Auckland star Julia Sloane - who earned global criticism for her infamous on-screen "boat n*****" comment - has republished her children's Te Reo books for Māori Language Week.
And as the 48-year-old reality TV star works away on what promises to be a racy documentary onsex - Sloane said she hopes the show which brought her to international prominence will get a second series.
Sloane was roundly criticised for the racial slur aimed towards co-star Michelle Blanchard during series one last year; something which she tearfully apologised for at the time, and repeated that contrition in a wide-ranging and revealing interview.
"Even though I take on board what I said was completely wrong - it was not overt racism- I don't like being labelled that," she said.
"I own that [her comment], I should never have said it and I don't want to make excuses for it. But at worse it could be said it was causal racism."
Sloane, speaking in the tropical warmth of her Parnell apartment, said she first heard the infamous term while sailing with her husband's friends.
"It's a term that's directed at each other - people who are white," she said. "That's what I was trying to say, that term is acceptable in the crowd you move in."
Sloane, a former athlete, model and bonds broker, spoke of the controversy while talking about her latest career moves - which include the republishing of her series of books incorporating Te Reo phrases.
The reprints were coincided to time with Māori Language Week.
The stories are based on Kākāriki Green, a mythical Taniwha who "gets up to mischief".
She plans to release a new book in the series next year.
Sloane, striking in designer dress, gold stilettos and winter tan, isn't fluent in Te Reo but believes it should be part of "our cultural heritage".
"I've been to East Tamaki School and they have incorporated it in their everyday teaching but [some other schools] don't really get that exposure. I think that's a real shame".
Ironically, Sloane she said experienced reverse racism by one publisher who rejected a chance to publish her books.
"I was turned down by someone who wanted to publish my books but they asked me what iwi I was from," she said.
"As you can tell there's not much iwi there. So they wouldn't take them. But eventually the books were published by Scholastic in 2008 and widely distributed to schools and libraries."
She's not concerned about the "haters" questioning her motivation to re-publish.
"I wasn't bringing them out on the back of what happened as a way of 'Oh look I have publicity now, look I can write'. They were already written."
The publishing comes after her recent return from an overseas holiday - which took in Rarotonga and parts of eastern Europe - with her husband, 66-year-old merchant banker Michael Lorimer.
But one thing that did frustrate him was Sloane revealing her sex toys in the show.
"Michael wasn't impressed."
He is, however, impressed by her recent plastic surgery, which includes $9000 spent on breast implants.
Sloane described them as her "latest assets".
Sloane is 18 years younger than her husband and bright enough to know she's seen as a "gold digger".
"Michael is very kind but careful with money. When we got together he knew I absolutely loved boating so he bought a boat. I love the fact now I have got the freedom with money that I have never experienced before. I wasn't born with it so I appreciate it and know how lucky I am."
