The ACT Party says anti-Maori comments by one of its wealthy backers are "offensive", but it respects his right to make the comments.
Invercargill businessman Louis Crimp says he donated $125,520 to ACT for last year's election so former ACT leader Don Brash and then-candidate John Banks, who is now the party's leader and only MP, would stop special treatment for Maori who were "either in jail or on welfare".
"I supported ACT because I thought Brash would go along the way for Maoris to be treated like equal New Zealanders ... they don't get any more than a normal New Zealander and we're all the same," he told the New Zealand Herald.
"I know white New Zealanders want the Maoris to be treated like ordinary New Zealanders."
Mr Crimp said he had met Mr Banks last week, and felt encouraged the MP, who is also a government minister, would pursue the same goals.
However, a spokeswoman for Mr Banks told the Herald he has never met Mr Crimp and did not share his views.
The pair spoke for the first time on the phone last week, she said.
ACT's president, Chris Simmons, said he found Mr Crimp's comments offensive, but it was not for him to judge whether they are racist.
"They're extreme and they don't represent the ACT Party's views at all," Mr Simmons told Radio New Zealand.
"Everybody has their own personal views and has the right to their personal views."
He said it would be up to ACT's board whether it accepted donations from Mr Crimp in future.
Race relations commissioner Joris de Bres says ACT needs to strongly condemn Mr Crimp's views.
"It behoves the party to do a little more than just say ... we support freedom of expression so we'll take money from anybody."
Mr de Bres says he has received one complaint about Mr Crimp's comments.
NZN