Laws lets loose in email exchange

Michael Laws says he will not moderate his style of communication. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

Michael Laws is embroiled in fresh controversy after an email exchange went viral.

Aucklander Brendon Madden-Smith wrote to the Wanganui mayor taking issue with the claim that the New Zealand Geographic Board was wrong to recommend the city should be spelled Whanganui.

Madden-Smith made reference to Laws' strongly worded letter to "angry" school children: "Now the people of Wanganui (according to you) are 'angry, upset and disappointed'. Maybe they should just get over it and start worrying about important issues like child abuse and murder."

Laws replied: "Maybe you should grow a brain."

The correspondence quickly degenerated into abuse from both parties. Madden-Smith wrote to Laws, "credibility going down, down, down," to which the mayor replied, "Jerk, jerk, jerk."

Laws was unrepentant yesterday and stood by his strong words. Laws said he would not moderate his style of communication. "I am sick and tired of people who do not live here trying to ram their liberal political ideology down our throats."