Maori Party renegade Hone Harawira has returned to the fold after the party caucus decided to give him another chance.
Mr Harawira would confine himself to his Te Tai Tokerau electorate in the Far North until the end of the year, then rejoin the caucus in 2010.
He made a fullsome apology this morning, and the party said he accepted he had made mistakes which had caused damage.
Mr Harawira got into trouble with his party because of an unauthorised trip to Paris while on a parliamentary visit to Paris and his racially abusive email in defence of it where he referred to white people as motherf...ers.
Party leaders asked him to consider leaving and becoming an independent, but he said he was determined to stay in the ranks.
After a series of hui in his electorate, the problem was handed back to the party's caucus, which met late into the night in Wellington yesterday.
A sombre Mr Harawira apologised to the party for pain and suffering he caused and how they had derailed credibility the party had fought to achieve.
"I also recognise the responsibility that I carry as a leader within Maoridom and I apologise most sincerely to all young Maori, and especially to our mokopuna, for the bad example that I have set by my comments."
He also apologised more generally for offence caused.
"I apologise also to those New Zealanders, both Maori and Pakeha, and particularly women, who have been offended by my comments. They were insensitive, they were hurtful, they were unnecessary, and I apologise for the grief and anguish that they have caused."
Party whip Te Ururoa Flavell hoped the apology would be helpful.
"We have found the strength to exercise compassion while reminding ourselves of the need for individual and collective discipline - mana motuhake - and of the high expectations of our membership."
Mr Flavell said the errant MP had requested the extra time in his electorate and the party agreed to that.
"2010 is a new year. We intend to build on lessons learnt and consolidate the gains that have been made in the short time of our relationship agreement with the National Party; while at the same time strenghtening our relationship with each other."
The Maori Party has five MPs - co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia, Mr Flavell, Rahui Katene and Mr Harawira.
The caucus meeting was not attended by Mrs Turia, who is recovering from gastric bypass surgery. Dr Sharples had other business in Auckland but will comment to news media shortly.
NZPA