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Peters slams Harawira's 'outrageous racist behaviour'

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Thu, 12 Nov 2009 1:49p.m.

Hone Harawira (file pic)

Hone Harawira (file pic)

The Maori Party should have instantly expelled Hone Harawira for his "outrageous racist behaviour" says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

Mr Peters used a speech to Grey Power in Wanganui today to attack Mr Harawira for his abusive comments in an email responding to criticism of his trip to Paris while on a parliamentary visit to Europe.

"They reveal his absurd sense of entitlement - in his world, a Maori is entitled to flaunt conventions of behaviour and pick and choose what rules to follow or disregard," Mr Peters said.

"When an MP can vilify other New Zealanders on an overtly racial basis - and not be instantly dismissed from his party - we are in deeply dangerous territory."

Mr Peters said Mr Harawira had "cloaked himself in the rhetoric of Maori grievance...he belongs in a gang somewhere, not in Parliament".

The Maori Party as a whole was culpable because it failed to sack Mr Harawira.

"Although it has a facade of moderation, the Maori Party is a racist party - how could it be anything else?"

The theme of Mr Peters speech was racial division and the "forces of disintegration" he said were "gnawing at the cohesion of New Zealand".

In the past, Mr Peters - whose party is no longer represented in Parliament - has been accused of promoting anti-Asian policies to get elected.

NZPA
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Comments

01 Dec 2009 10:35p.m.

Jan.. wrote:

Get real folks and look at yourself in the mirror and say is that really me, wonder where i come from? re-think matey, we are not silly..

13 Nov 2009 03:51p.m.

David wrote:

Oh, and "hint,hint", before you label others a 'joke' it helps greatly if you spell their name right.

13 Nov 2009 03:48p.m.

David wrote:

Many people are conned into believing everything the media says without processing the information for themselves, it's as if they're being brainwashed! The media only hate Winston Peters because he fends for himself, and people get sucked into believing the hype. If you think Winston Peters is racially biased against Asian immigrants, just look at the self-imposed cultural segregation these people impose upon themselves, and you'll soon be pointing the finger in the other direction.

13 Nov 2009 02:32p.m.

Dawn wrote:

I applaud Winston for specking out over Hone Harawira’s bull. Hone may as well be wearing a patch. New Zealand lost a great politician in the last election unlike the Maori Party that was given its seats. Winston please continue to speak out for what many kiwi are thinking.

12 Nov 2009 08:59p.m.

Kieran wrote:

Why is it that it is always Winston Peters who sais exactly what the majority of New Zealanders are thinking? As always he is right. Why is he not in parliament? Seems like exactly the kind of person that we need

12 Nov 2009 07:01p.m.

Aroha wrote:

Winston is right Icant believe Hone is getting away with such racist remarks he should have been fired and also, I thought we are a democratic country. so why was only Maori media allowed to film the entire hui today Makes me sad to be Maori.

12 Nov 2009 06:32p.m.

hint,hint wrote:

winstone!!!... you are a joke... you spat in everyone's face when you went with labour, so that you could sit on your high horse and call yourself the king maker.... winstone is hypocritical and Tauranga spoke for all of nz.... GET LOST!!!!

12 Nov 2009 06:26p.m.

David wrote:

I'll say one thing for Winston, he's done a lot more for the elderly and for this country in general than either Goff or Key have ever done in their entire careers. As for playing the race card, he's only speaking what most New Zealanders honestly think, so those who accuse him of being racist should broaden that definition to a good percentage of the country.

12 Nov 2009 05:44p.m.

helen wrote:

We are awfully PC if it is a non-pakeha who is racist. If any other politician had said that, he would be gone by lunch time. Why do we have two standards?

12 Nov 2009 04:39p.m.

John, Lower Hutt wrote:

Way to go Winnie!! You're a good ole fashioned
New Zealander. And we sure as heck need more of your sort.