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Political parties should be careful about criticising Maori Party MP Hone Harawira's detour to the Australian outback, as their own MPs have at times neglected public duties, says Green MP Metiria Turei.
Mrs Turei said criticism of Mr Harawira for breaking away from the justice and electoral committee's
visit to Melbourne was unjustifiable.
Mr Harawira is being investigated by the Clerk of the House for going to the Northern Territory to support Aboriginal communities.
While there he labelled the Australian Government racist and called the opposition Labor Party cowardly.
Mr Harawira paid for his return flight to Alice Springs, and accommodation there, but his business class flights from New Zealand and other expenses were met by Parliament.
Mrs Turei, the Green Party spokeswoman on indigenous issues, said Mr Harawira had been working in his capacity as an MP during his visit to the Northern Territory.
"The situation Hone went to see and discuss with the people affected is one of the most serious setbacks in Australia's relationship with indigenous peoples in decades, and Hone can now give New Zealanders a first-hand report on what is happening up there."
Mrs Turei said she had been on parliamentary trips overseas where MPs had broken from scheduled events to "skive off" and play golf.
She refused to name names but said they came from various parties.
On National Radio yesterday, Mr Harawira said there would probably be a few MPs who would go to Paris to watch the World Cup.
The Weekend Herald was told yesterday that a parliamentary rugby team of about a dozen MPs would go to Paris to to play three games before the start of the World Cup.
But the team captain, National MP Murray McCully, said sponsors and the MPs would pay the full cost of the trip.
A spokeswoman for Trevor Mallard, Minister for the Rugby World Cup 2001, said he was hoping to attend some matches but that would be in a work capacity because of his portfolio.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the New Zealand First MP would be keen to fit in a World Cup match.
It was likely Mr Peters would be engaged in some foreign affairs work in Europe in October, but if he did go to a game it would not be at the expense of any scheduled duties.
The Clerk of the House, David McGee, is expected to give Speaker Margaret Wilson a report on Mr Harawira's trip by early next week.
Maori Party co-leaders supported Mr Harawira's principles but stopped short of endorsing his actions.
Dr Pita Sharples said the Maori Party strongly supported the indigenous people of the Northern Territory and would continue to speak out about the abuse of indigenous people.
Tariana Turia said Mr Harawira was a passionate advocate for indigenous people's rights, social justice and reconciliation.
