Tamihere: 'I made the biggest mistake of my life'

John Tamihere

Outspoken Labour MP John Tamihere issued a public expression of "sorrow" last night, immediately welcomed by Prime Minister Helen Clark as "the first step to rebuild a relationship with his colleagues".

Mr Tamihere rejected Helen Clark's earlier suggestion that the comments had been the result of stress or frustration at the level of party support over the Serious Fraud Office investigation.

"I was relaxed. I was too relaxed ... I've just got to be far more careful about who I work with in the media."

Helen Clark said via a spokesman: "He recognised the seriousness of what was said and recognises the need to rebuild confidence."

The Labour leadership pressed Mr Tamihere to publicly apologise to alleviate the battering the Government is receiving in the House and to secure his commitment.

It also wanted to prevent speculation that Mr Tamihere might defect to another party or go independent.

He made special mention on Close Up of Deputy PM Michael Cullen, whom he said he "idolised".

He also said he had offered his resignation to Helen Clark on Monday but she had told him to "breathe deeply on that one".

Helen Clark and party president Mike Williams met Mr Tamihere on Tuesday night to get the MP to act more swiftly than he was intending.

It is highly unlikely a deal was done for him to return to the Cabinet after the next election. But it is likely he sought assurances it was not impossible, if he gained the confidence of his colleagues.

Mr Tamihere's criticisms were published in Investigate magazine, after what he said he believed was an off-the-record talk with editor Ian Wishart.

The comments suggested Mr Tamihere believed his own party was too anti-men and anti-family and that the party was too heavily influenced by gays and unionists.

They also suggested Helen Clark was emotional and Dr Cullen changed the meaning of legislation without supporting parties realising they had not got what they wanted.

He referred to gay colleague Chris Carter as "queer" and "a tosser" and to Steve Maharey as "smarmy".

Asked if he stood by his comments, he said: "I made them. I've got to move on."

Mr Williams said the comments did not undermine Labour because there was "a healing process".

Asked if Labour would suffer long-term, he said: "It's up to John. He will be nose down, bottom up."

The Opposition said the real problem was the Government was out of touch with the feelings of mainstream New Zealand.

National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee said it was more interested in funding sex change operations than sorting out pharmaceutical funding.

Interviewed earlier by the Herald, Mr Tamihere indicated that his comments about Dr Cullen's ability to change legislation were in reference to the Foreshore and Seabed Act, which was passed with the support of New Zealand First.

Mr Tamihere said he did not believe he was criticising Dr Cullen in the discussion.

"He's a brilliant wordsmith ... and I said 'I just saw a craftsman at work and I was just admiring of it'."

Dr Cullen said last night that he had taken "great umbrage" at what Mr Tamihere implied.

"The way the comments came out it appeared I was acting deceitfully and I am not deceitful. As Leader of the House your word is your bond on matters of this sort."

Mr Tamihere said the party's treatment in demoting Police Minister George Hawkins to No 25 on the list just two days before his discussion with Mr Wishart had not made him particularly angry.

"No. I thought it was a dumb thing to do. It wasn't worthy of us but we move on."

Tamihere's apology

"I have dropped the ball badly and made the biggest mistake of my life. I want to express my sorrow for the feelings I've hurt, especially to the spouses and families of my colleagues and staff. Everyone knows my attitudes and prejudices but in future I do not intend to express them in a way that hurts my colleagues, staff and their families."

- additional reporting Stuart Dye