'When Wanganui sort out their mayor we'll sort out Hone'

Hone Harawira's actions have been defended by Maori Party co-vice president Heta Kingston. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Embattled Maori Party MP Hone Harawira was last night facing his party leadership to discuss disciplinary action over his recent conduct.

Harawira has been in the spotlight since it was revealed he skipped a meeting in Brussels with European Parliamentarians to go to Paris with his wife, and for an expletive-strewn email he sent to former Waitangi Tribunal director Buddy Mikaere.

The Te Tai Tokerau MP last night met party president, professor Whatarangi Winiata, who had earlier this week spoken out against Harawira's actions.

But Maori Party co-vice president and retired judge Heta Hingston appeared to defended Harawira yesterday, and argued his day trip to Paris was just "bad timing".

Hingston conceded Harawira's email comments, in which he rallied against "white motherf*****s", were "unpleasant," but said the MP was provoked by reference to his wife Hilda.

"There is a Maori way of seeing things and a Pakeha way," said Hingston, who played down the prospect of serious disciplinary action by the party.

"When Wanganui sort out their mayor we'll sort out Hone."

Wanganui mayor Michael Laws said yesterday that Harawira's comments were indicative of the Maori Party as a whole.

"Hone is an overt racist who hates white people and has actually written of it. All he has done is say what the Maori Party's leadership is really thinking."

The email from Mikaere which drew the vitriolic response started: "Gotta ask the question eh? Who's paying for Hilda?"

The response from Harawira: "Gee Buddy, do you believe that white man bulls*** too do you?

"White motherf*****rs have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries, and all of a sudden you want me to play along with their puritanical bulls***."

Harawira added a postscript that he would be happy for the email to be made public: "If you want to take this to the press, go right ahead."

Mikaere said yesterday he was surprised by the vitriol from Harawira. "Initially I thought he was joking. He has no right to talk like this. No matter his political or ethnic make-up it is no excuse."

Party co-leader Tariana Turia's said last week that she understood Harawira had missed his meeting due to sickness.

Former Te Tai Tokerau and Labour MP Dover Samuels said the electorate was standing by Harawira, despite the controversy.

Samuels said any disciplinary action taken by the Maori Party would be symbolic, and they would not countenance sacking Harawira from Parliament because his presence acted as a safety valve for discontent with the Government.

"They won't bloody well expel him. Who would be flying the radical flag if he wasn't there?"

Maori Party co-leaders Turia and Pita Sharples also directed queries to the leaders of the party, rather than its Parliamentary wing.

Party president Winiata did not return calls last night.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY