Mayor seeks backdown on accusation of racism

Marlborough Mayor Tom Harrison has written to the Speaker of the House demanding Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen retract accusations that he is a racist.

Dr Cullen criticised Mr Harrison in Parliament this week over Marlborough District Council's handling of iwi consultation in developing marine farms.

He called him a racist and said Mr Harrison had called local iwi "Maori bully boys".

Dr Cullen refused to repeat the claims outside Parliament, where he would not have the protection of parliamentary privilege.

Mr Harrison said Dr Cullen was punching below the belt and his comments were "dirty and hurtful".

He had a deep respect for his local iwi and had never used derogatory terms to refer to them.

His comments about "Maori bully boys" were made after veteran protesters Tame Iti, Titewhai Harawira and Ken Mair spoke out in the media.

"I . . . said we wanted rational debate on the issue. I said those are not the people to talk to, those are the bully boys, the ugly face of Maoridom."

Of Dr Cullen's remark that the fault for the seabed and foreshore debacle lay at Mr Harrison's feet, the mayor said he was not on the council when the issue opened in 1996.

"Cullen made a mistake blaming me, when it's all of the Government's own making."