'Price of citizenship' line angers press secretary

Heather Roy. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Heather Roy's press secretary, Chas Te Runa, lashed out at his boss for adopting a line from a legendary kaumatua's speech as her own.

Te Runa referred to Roy as a "f***in' insensitive ignorant bitch" in a Facebook conversation after a speech last year.

It followed the use of the term "price of citizenship" in a speech by Roy.

The phrase became part of New Zealand history after its use by Sir Apirana Ngata, MP for Eastern Maori from 1905 to 1943, to describe the sacrifices of war. He said it was a "price of citizenship" for Maori because full equality had yet to be won.

Te Runa wrote on Facebook: "Chas te Runa can't believe that SOMEONE he knows used the line 'the price of citizenship' in her speech."

He wrote that he couldn't understand the logic.

"Tariana Turia gets shit for saying 'Holocaust', but non-Maori can use 'the price of citizenship' whenever they f***in' feel like it?"

He was at the time - and has been since - working for Roy. The comments were deleted shortly after being posted.

Roy was speaking on the 60th anniversary of the referendum on compulsory military training.

She told a crowd at the National War Memorial in Wellington: "By your service, you have demonstrated your understanding of the relationship between freedom, choice and personal responsibility. You know the price of citizenship."

Act leader Rodney Hide said he questioned why the Facebook message had emerged a year after it was posted and in the same week Roy had been dumped as party deputy leader.

"Chas is Ngati Porou. They feel pretty passionate about the speech by Sir Apirana that rallied Maori to World War II, to spill their own blood as the price of citizenship.

"I can understand his passion, just not his language. I'm afraid people have to learn Facebook is public."

Te Runa said the statement should not have gone on Facebook. He said he was angry at the time it was made. He said he did not refer to anyone by name but "it's a mistake and I accept that".