Graffiti after criticism

The footpath outside a Government press secretary's home was the target of a graffiti attack yesterday after he criticised a Maori Party member for posting MPs' addresses on the internet.

The graffiti appeared after a report in the Independent newspaper about the website posting, which appeared last May.

The website gave the addresses of Labour and New Zealand First Maori MPs who supported the controversial foreshore legislation.

Jason Ake, press secretary to Waiariki MP Mita Ririnui, discovered the website posting, still on the Tino Rangatiratanga site, in November and warned MPs via email of its contents. Some took security advice as a result.

Mr Ake refused comment yesterday, but a spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark said police were investigating the graffiti attack.

The website posting was done by Gareth Seymour, now a Maori Party member, days after the foreshore hikoi but before the party was formed.

In his email, Mr Ake said "senior Maori Party members are not above putting the families of MPs at risk".

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia condemned the posting as inappropriate and said she would never condone such intrusions on the homes and families of MPs.

But she was angered by the suggestion from Mr Ake that senior party members would condone it.

Helen Clark's spokesman said Mr Ake had not been wise to make the reference and the issue would be discussed with him.