Two iwi are considering boycotting a statutory Maori advisory board for the Auckland council.

Phil Goff has indicated that Labour is backing away from its stance of allowing customary title of the foreshore and seabed to be awarded to iwi.

Pita Sharples has rejected claims the party leaders were undermined, and defended MP Hone Harawira after letting him off with an apology.

It's up to Hone Harawira to demonstrate he means his apology for "racist and offensive" behaviour, John Key says.

The man who received Hone's Harawira's racially charged email is pleased with the MP's second apology but is not expecting a personal "sorry".

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has apologised again for comments made in an offensive email and is allowed to remain with the party following three weeks of debate over his future.

The Maori Party's ruling council is dismissing reports that it is discussing reneging on a deal over the ETS legislation.

Giving Hone Harawira the option of remaining with the Maori Party shows principle has been sacrificed to political expediency, Buddy Mikaere says.

Controversial Maori Party MP Hone Harawira will probably remain in the party but may face a period of suspension from caucus, co-leader Pita Sharples said today.

Ministers will have to personally buy the taxpayer-provided furniture, crockery and whiteware in their Wellington homes.

Hone Harawira has taken on QC Peter Williams to advise him during his battle to stay with the Maori Party.

Hone Harawira's "white mother******s" comment has provoked 753 approaches to Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres, who says the vast majority complained they had been insulted.

If the Maori Party and the Government had any hopes of keeping the hornet's nest the Hone Harawira dispute had stirred up with him in Te Tai Tokerau, they were quickly disabused of the notion yesterday.