John Key has said comments he made on Newstalk ZB were taken out of context after he was criticised for saying New Zealand had a peaceful history.
The National Party leader told the station that New Zealand's history was benign.
"One of the things that is unique about
New Zealand is we're not a country that has come about as a result of civil war or where there has been a lot of fighting internally."
He said both parties to the Treaty of Waitangi - Maori and the Crown - decided it was in their best interests to have a peaceful negotiation.
Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia told Newstalk ZB that Mr Key's comments were beyond naive.
"I am floored at Mr Key's lack of knowledge on New Zealand History," Mr Horomia said.
He said there were wars, fighting and lives and lives and land was lost.
"What does Mr Key think of yesterday, the signing of the biggest treaty settlement ever with CNI iwi, was all about?
"It certainly was not about providing redress to Maori for the niceties of the 1800's," Mr Horomia said, referring to the Treelords agreement.
ACT leader Rodney Hide said Mr Key had taken a "narrow view" of New Zealand's history.
"He certainly hasn't represented what many Maori have felt for many years and it makes it hard to explain why National and Labour Governments have been paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to settle grievances," Mr Hide said.
He said Mr Key's comments were a "slip of the tongue" but he was "quick to learn".
But John Key's spokesman Jason Ede said the comments were in relation to the Treaty of Waitangi, not the New Zealand Wars that came afterwards.
Mr Ede said the party was looking at "taking other actions" in relation to the comments but he would not say what those were.
- NZHERALD STAFF
