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Police are investigating a racist and threatening letter sent to a Rotorua school principal who has been outspoken on Maori issues in recent years.
Hawea Vercoe received the anonymous letter at his school, Te Kura Kaupapa o Te Rotoiti.
Mr Vercoe made headlines when he advocated for his school to be allowed Maori signs on its buses, leading to a policy change by Land Transport New Zealand.
He has also called for Maori wards to be established in Rotorua, where he serves on the regional council.
The threatening letter was too offensive to print in its entirety, The Rotorua Post reports.
It called Mr Vercoe a racially derogative name, contained a number of racist references and warned him to stop speaking out or face consequences.
It was signed "racist, white power".
Mr Vercoe said he was concerned at the tone of the letter but it would not stop him from speaking out.
"It has just strengthened my resolve to stand up for Maori in a positive way and to continue to encourage good unity between Maori and non-Maori in Rotorua ... there is a lot of misunderstanding out there about Maori issues."
Senior Sergeant Tony Colby of the Rotorua police said anyone who sent a threatening letter could be charged with threatening to cause grievous bodily harm or threatening to kill.
- NZPA
