Wed, 02 Dec 2009 5:50p.m.
By Duncan Garner
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira will stay with the party, it has been announced today.
The party met late last night, but emerged today with Mr Harawira making another apology for his expletive-filled email.
His co-leaders wanted him to take a hike and leave the party, but Mr Harawira and his supporters have won.
“I apologise to New Zealanders, Maori and Pakeha and especially women who have been offended by my comments,” Mr Harawira said.
“Hone is with us, he will stay with us,” says Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell.
Mr Harawira will not be punished any further.
“We acknowledge the wrong, we have found the strength to exercise compassion,” says Mr Flavell.
“My apologies are genuine and sincere,” Mr Harawira said. “My comments were offensive and I accept that and have apologised.”
But Mr Harawira still won’t accept his email criticising white New Zealanders was racist.
“I accept my comments were insensitive and hurtful,” he said. “It’s difficult for me to assume that my comments were racist.”
As he addressed the media, Mr Harawira was surrounded by two MPs and the party president – but his co-leaders were absent.
Tariana Turia is recovering from a stomach stapling operation, and Pita Sharples was in Auckland – he too refuses to accept Mr Harawira’s comments were racist.
But Dr Sharples and Ms Turia have both been stared down by Mr Harawira. Two weeks ago both said he should consider being an independent MP.
“If people in our party, in our caucus, feel that they are not responsible to the rule and our decision making, then that makes it very difficult to work together – it’s very, very simple,” Ms Turia said.
Her comments were made because of Mr Harawira’s refusal to accept he represented anyone other than the people of the north.
“I don’t give a shit what other New Zealanders think, only Te Tai Tokerau,” he had said.
But today Dr Sharples was rewriting history – saying the Maori Party never wanted him out.
‘No one ever kicked him out and said we wanted him gone,” he says.
“He is a very talented man.”
Mr Harawira will also pay back money for his taxpayer funded detour to Paris with his wife – 3 News understands that is about $1,000.
But Labour says Mr Harawira has walked all over his leaders.
“Truth is, the Maori leadership got rolled. They wanted to get rid of him – they failed. That leaves them with a big problem,” says Labour leader Phil Goff.
So while Mr Harawira has been permitted to stay in the party, he must now play by the rules.
3 News