Harawira's behaviour gets rebuke from Turia

Tariana Turia. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia publicly fronted over Hone Harawira's inflammatory email for the first time yesterday, saying his behaviour had been "unacceptable" and had prompted a flood of racist and abusive emails to the party.

She said neither she nor Pita Sharples would be attending a hui in Kaitaia today at which the party is due to decide on any disciplinary action against Mr Harawira. They would instead leave it to the party president and council members.

Mr Harawira had expected the co-leaders to attend and did not know they would not be until the media rang. He told the Herald it was disappointing that they would not be attending. He had understood today was chosen because it was the only day on which the co-leaders could attend.

It was to be the first time the co-leaders had met him since his email to Buddy Mikaere referring to "white mother f******" was made public.

It has resulted in at least 365 complaints to the Race Relations Commissioner. Both Mrs Turia and Prime Minister John Key expressed dismay at the impact the email and public reaction was having on race relations.

Mrs Turia said there was no doubt it had caused "considerable damage" to the party in the public's eyes.

"It's distressing to find that our relationships with the public are particularly fragile. And that's what we've noticed from the responses that have come in."

While Mr Harawira's behaviour was "unacceptable", she had been flooded with emails which were "equally racist and abusive".

However, she believed Mr Harawira's apology on Tuesday had been "unreserved" and genuine. She also emphasised that he had made a "huge contribution" both to the party and Maori over the past 30 years.

Mr Harawira would not comment further on Mrs Turia's expression of distress, saying he had already apologised for any harm he had caused the party in his apology on Tuesday.

Mr Key was beginning to show some frustration at the escalation of the issue for the fifth day running.

Yesterday he said that while Mr Harawira's comments were offensive, he believed they had been given too much credence.

"It is a serious issue that it sparks up some sort of unrest or ill-feeling when it's unnecessary. When National and the Maori Party joined for a political relationship, I think that set race relations in New Zealand in a very positive tone. I believe that continues and I'd hate to see it undermined by the feelings, thoughts or comments from Hone Harawira."

Both Mr Key and Mrs Turia said it had not had an impact on the relationship between the two parties.

Mr Harawira's electorate committee will meet party president Whatarangi Winiata and co-vice-president Heta Hingston today.

Ngahuia Kapa, the Te Tai Tokerau committee chairwoman, said the electorate supported Mr Harawira, but wanted to lay down three "conditions" to make sure a similar episode did not happen again.

It also wanted to send a message to the co-leaders and president to improve their management of Mr Harawira. "It is a reflection of bad management. We all know this but we're just not talking about it."

She said Mr Harawira had done enough apologising. "Pretty soon he's going to be down on his puku crawling."