By EUGENE BINGHAM
Labour MP John Tamihere has bowed to pressure from his party colleagues and apologised to three people he called "drug addicts and thieves."
In a statement to Parliament yesterday he expressed regret for the accusations he made against the Waipareira Trust identities last week.
But he failed to mention
the more than 50 Work and Income beneficiaries whose details he made public in documents tabled in his own defence last Wednesday.
The Hauraki MP lashed out last week after Act leader Richard Prebble made allegations about financial mismanagement at the trust when Mr Tamihere was its chief executive.
It is understood that senior colleagues, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, were unimpressed with his behaviour and counselled him to make amends.
Mr Tamihere admitted yesterday that he had "impugned the character" of the three people, Naida Glavish, Dennis Hansen and Hyrum Parata.
"On reflection, I recognise that this action was inappropriate. I regret I took the action I did and sincerely apologise for any hurt or harm caused to them."
The apology failed to impress the trio, however, who have challenged Mr Tamihere to make the allegations outside the House.
Mr Hansen said last night that he could not accept the apology because of the seriousness of the accusations.
"Just as well people know me."
Act MP Rodney Hide continued his party's campaign against Mr Tamihere by raising allegations of theft that have been levelled against a trustee.
Mr Hide told Parliament that the trust board member, named in documents the Act MP produced as Sam Paniora, had allegedly stolen a boat from a trust property while Mr Tamihere was chief executive.
