KEY POINTS:
Prime Minister Helen Clark has criticised Winston Peters' use of the word "apartheid" to describe the Maori Party and protests against police terror raids.
But the New Zealand First leader is standing by his description, saying it fits the definition of the word.
Mr Peters has come under attack for his speech at his party's annual conference when he lashed out at marches against arrests in the raids and launched a fierce attack on the Maori Party.
Helen Clark said nothing that happened in New Zealand could be likened to apartheid.
"There is nothing like apartheid in New Zealand. It was a unique, repulsive, institutionalised system of discrimination against people who were not European. That is not New Zealand."
She also hit out at the Maori Party for protesting against the police raids, especially the blockade on Ruatoki.
"I find it absolutely extraordinary that the Maori Party on one hand is demanding the police prosecute Trevor Mallard for assault, and on the other is claiming that people who at the very least have illicitly used firearms, constructed Molotov cocktails and trained themselves in how to use napalm should not be charged. How does that make any sense?"
Mr Peters was yesterday defending his use of the word, saying comments by Tuhoe kaumatua Tamati Kruger on the desire for a "Tuhoe nation" were precisely that.
"Look in your dictionary. He said he wanted a separate nation within a nation, with separate privileges, separate rights. And based on what? On race. That's what apartheid is."
Mr Kruger said "in one way [Mr Peters'] analysis might be far ahead of other people" because Tuhoe - who never signed the Treaty of Waitangi - had long struggled for more self-determination.
But self-determination was a far cry from apartheid and Mr Peters' use of the term had added "evil, sinister and bad" layers to that debate.
"Apartheid really speaks of separate without consent, it's where one group believes they are superior and so they will exercise that superiority.
"That's not what the debate around sovereignty is about. I think he's cheeky to use those words, but that's him, isn't it?"
Commentators have described the speech - with its frequent invocations of apartheid and "militant separatism" - as pure politicking, saying Mr Peters was trying to out-do [former National Party leader] Don Brash by playing the race card to get votes.
Mr Peters said accusing him of playing the race card was "a convenient way of trying to dispose of a substantial point of view because you cannot refute it".
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said Mr Peters' comments were "classic political entertainment" and his "showy phrases" should not be taken seriously.
But the comparisons he drew with apartheid were outlandish and she was concerned it would "hype up unnecessary and unhelpful prejudice and fear. Politicians have to stop getting so angry about race".
Victoria University political scientist and Maori issues commentator Maria Bargh said Mr Peters' comments were simply political strategy.
"If National's on the rise where are they [NZ First] going to get votes?
"They have to take them from somewhere. I think he's being strategic about positioning his party in opposition to the Maori Party for the next election."
John Minto - who has spoken out about the police raids and arrests - also said it was an appeal to "grumpy" voters, and described the comments as "typical of Winston Peters' spittle-flecked dog whistling".
He pointed out that Mr Peters' tirade against apartheid came despite the MP supporting the Springboks' rugby tour in the 1980s.
