Auckland University is rejecting calls for it to sack academic Margaret Mutu over her call for "white" immigration to New Zealand to be limited.
The Maori studies department head caused a stir on Sunday when she called for a restriction on the number of white migrants from South Africa, England and the United States as they brought "an attitude of white supremacy" with them.
It led outspoken Ngapuhi elder David Rankin to call for Auckland Universityto sack her, but Auckland University vice-chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon says an academic's right to free speech is important.
"The vice-chancellor understands the concerns raised ... but believes very strongly in the right of academics to comment on issues in which they have expertise, even when those comments may be controversial," a statement from the university says.
Prof McCutcheon says the Education Act protects the right of academics to state controversial or unpopular opinions within the law.
"That is an important right in a free society," he said.
Prof Mutu was responding to a Labour Department report which says Maori are the most likely ethnic group to express anti-immigrant views.
Mr Rankin, who labelled Prof Mutu as a "champagne radical", says Auckland University is scared of her but they need to look at her position again.
"Margaret is an archetype bigot. She's constantly attacking white New Zealand," he told Newstalk ZB.
NZN