Wed, 11 Nov 2009 5:25p.m.
By Sia Aston
Maori Party co-leaders will be a no-show at tomorrow's hui to decide the fate of Hone Harawira. It is the strongest sign yet that the party leadership is putting some distance between it and the errant MP, who has also instigated a record reaction from New Zealanders complaining about his racist email.
"I've got things that I can't cancel, and you know, business has to go on," says co-leader Tariana Turia. "That's what we're doing, leaving it to the party to deal with."
It is a sign perhaps the leaders have had enough of the Harawira sideshow.
"Total sideshow," says fellow co-leader Pita Sharples. "It's ridiculous. I mean, Tariana's feeling the pressure more than me."
Ms Turia says she has received hundreds of emails in response to Mr Harawira's comments to a former supporter, many she says are explicitly racist.
"They're responding to what they consider to be serious abuse, and they are being equally abusive as well, which has been very difficult," she says.
A record number of irate New Zealanders have also contacted the race relations commissioner. In just the last five days, 365 complaints have come in - compare that with last year, when 407 complaints were received in total.
It is the biggest public reaction since veteran broadcaster Paul Holmes called former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan a "cheeky darkie".
Commissioner Joris de Bres says he has no power to act against Mr Harawira. He says Mr Harawira's comments are okay under freedom of expression laws, and don't breach the Human Rights Act.
"It's words that lead to deeds that excite racial hostility that are an offence under the act, and there's a very high threshold for that in terms of freedom of expression," says Mr de Bres.
Ms Turia says Mr Harawira has achieved a lot as an MP, but what about his future in the party?
"That's a matter for the party," she says.
"We've got to work together really, looking at where we go from here," says Dr Sharples. "Where he goes, where we go."
Tomorrow the leaders go their own way, while Mr Harawira goes to face the party caucus in Kaitaia.
3 News