Man who threatened Harawira caught

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says one of the "rednecks" who threatened to kill him when he said he would not want his kids to date a pakeha has been charged by police.

Last month, Mr Harawira said he would not feel comfortable if one of his seven children came home with a pakeha partner.

"Like all pakehas would be happy with their daughters coming home with a Maori boy? And the answer is they wouldn't."

Mr Harawira said his remark had thrown up "the regular nasty responses, including some nutters threatening to kill me".

Today he told Radio Live police had caught one of the "rednecks" who had threatened him.

"Anyway, the cops have tracked him down, I think he's going to court for it,"

Mr Harawira was today standing by his original comments.

"I'd be thinking to myself oh God, do I really have to sort of mellow out here because of this person, do I have to change the way in which we act inside our own house because of this person, do I have to sit here and smile politely when they mispronounce my name."

Prime Minister John Key has described the view as unfortunate and ridiculous but Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said the remarks weren't racist and probably mirrored the feelings of many people.

- NZPA