Editorial: Hone's call was out of line

Maori are, as a rule, unconditional in the support or tautoko they offer whanau or larger kin groups. They may disagree with what somebody has done, but they will not withdraw the hand of help.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira was doubtless acting in the spirit of tautoko when he publicly backed the two brothers, his nephews, who face assault charges for jostling the Prime Minister on Waitangi Day.

But he went far too far in calling for the matter to be dealt with outside the court and for Mr Key to meet the two accused men. Offering his support in private is one thing but seeking to pre-empt police and judicial procedure is quite another.

There may come a time when it is appropriate for Harawira to intercede on their behalf and set up a meeting with the PM, but not until the courts have disposed of the matter.

To their credit the party's co-leaders, Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples, dissociated themselves from their colleague's stand and explicitly deplored the assault. Harawira would show true leadership if he did the same. He could publicly disown his nephews' actions while privately supporting them as individuals.

Their slovenly behaviour was an affront to an honoured guest and to the mana of Ngapuhi. It ill behoves anyone in a leadership position to enter a plea in mitigation on their behalf before they even face trial.