Tamihere tells Laws: scrutiny just part of job

John Tamihere. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

Mayor Michael Laws must accept scrutiny of his private life, according to his radio station colleague John Tamihere.

His comments came after the Herald on Sunday revealed Laws called police to the Wanganui home he shared with partner Leonie Brookhammer in what a senior officer later called a "domestic attendance".

Area commander Inspector Duncan MacLeod said the file had been reviewed by the station's family violence coordinator. No further action was taken.

Laws revealed Brookhammer had moved out but said the couple - who have three children together - were still in a relationship.

He refused to say why he called police and described it as an "intensely private and personal matter".

But fellow Radio Live broadcaster John Tamihere said Laws should expect to have his life placed under scrutiny. Both men are controversial former MPs.

On the afternoon show Tamihere hosts with Willie Jackson, he said: "It is impossible for someone in the media who courts the media, who is an existing politician and wants to continue to be a politician, to draw the curtain down and say 'this is deeply personal'.

"Of course it's deeply personal. When the cops get called out to any domestic it is deeply personal - particularly when others find out about it."

Tamihere said Laws had spoken publicly on a number of subjects that were personal and controversial, including "lazy Maoris, abusing and murdering Maoris" and calling the dead Tongan king "bloated".

"But when the boot is on the other foot, don't ever think you are beyond reproach, don't ever think you are above scrutiny."

Tamihere said he had suffered intrusive press inquiries himself and it had been unpleasant. "I might not like it but when you're in the game you have to take it - good and bad."

Laws' boss at Radio Live, Mitch Harris, backed Tamihere's stance and said it had not caused friction among colleagues.

Tamihere was ousted from Cabinet after dismissing the Holocaust, belittling his female colleagues as "front bums", and amid questions over his role at Auckland's Waipareira Trust.

Laws did not respond to attempts to contact him.