Harawira continues fighting talk

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira. Photo / Getty Images

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says the sentiment behind his "white mother....ers" remarks remains and the "rape of Maori land" continues.

In a speech at the Parihaka International Peace Festival in Taranaki at the weekend, Mr Harawira said white New Zealanders reacted badly to his controversial remark after he defended his day trip to Paris, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

However, when in 2007 he called the then Australian prime minister John Howard was a "racist bastard" everyone was behind him, he said.

Mr Harawira, the MP for the Northland electorate of Te Tai Tokerau, said the rape of Maori lands was not an issue confined to the past. The foreshore and seabed solution was simple, he said.

"First, put all the foreshore and seabed in Maori title. That will take away the angst, anxiety and anger that has been with Maori forever. Second, make it unalienable so it's never able to be sold."

Maori had no problem with guaranteed access for all New Zealanders, he said.

Mr Harawira also attacked iwi leadership, saying many were now more focused on corporate activity and profit than caring for their people.

- NZPA