Best On Day

Maori Party leader disagrees with Race Relations Commissioner over Harawira e-mails

During the week Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres was careful to avoid saying that Hone Harawira's expletive-ridden email was abusive, because to do so would be an admission that Harawira had breached the Human Rights Act, which says

It shall be unlawful for any person to publish or distribute written matter which is threatening, abusive, or insulting

However, Tariana Turia disagrees with him, describing the e-mail as abusive.

I think that what was in the email was particularly distressing. There's no doubt that number one - nobody likes to be spoken to in that manner. No one likes abusive emails, least of all myself. So I have found that incredibly distressing.

So Turia thinks the email was abusive. Why doesn't Joris de Bres? For that matter whys doesn't Harawira's local electorate committee?

Ngahuia Kapa, the Te Tai Tokerau committee chairwoman, said the electorate supported Mr Harawira, but wanted to lay down three "conditions" to make sure a similar episode did not happen again.

Perhaps one of these conditions will be directed at the Maori Party leadership. There is a crack appearing between Harawira's electorate committee and the Maori Party leadership. The Maori Party leadership will not be at the hui today.

Update Pita Sharples unexpectedly attended the hui, turning up with president Whata Winiata. That's interesting, given that Turia said he wouldn't be attending.