20 NOV 2009 - As of today, the Human Rights Commission has received 753 approaches from the public about the email sent by Maori Party MP Hone Harawira.

The Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said public responses reflected a range of views and were a valuable guide to the issues that the Maori Party must seek to address.

The vast majority have contacted the Commission to say they have been insulted and offended by the content of the message and the tenor of its delivery. Beyond that, there is alarm and sadness in their perception of its likely effect on race relations.

People have spoken of the divisiveness of such comments; they have spoken of their anger and outrage at both the views contained in the comment and what they hear as its racist and sexist content. A number have spoken of what they see as a double-standard in how they envisage the comment would have been responded to had it been made by someone who is not Maori.

A few callers have defended Hone Harawira's right to speak as he did and have referred to the historic events underpinning his comment.

Many have expressed anger and frustration at what they have seen to be the reluctance or the limited mandate of the Human Rights Commission, the Race Relations Commissioner and the Prime Minister to take action against Hone Harawira.

The Race Relations Commissioner said the comments were offensive and divisive, particularly, from a Member of Parliament and that he was advocating for an effective response from the Maori Party to address public concern. It the Maori Party so desired, he would be prepared to offer advice on how the Maori Party might restore good race relations.

In the first instance, the Commission's expectation is that the person who caused the offence and the organisation to which they belong needed to act and the Maori Party's constitution offers options to respond to uphold the integrity of the party and thereby address public concern about damage to race relations. Timeline of the Hone Harawira email issue Tuesday 3 November: Hone Harawira responds to an email query with a strongly worded email. Thursday, 5 November: The email is made public through the media. Friday, 6 November: The Commission begins to receive approaches complaining that the email is racially offensive and divisive. The Commission releases a statement from the Race Relations Commissioner reflecting the initial public response, and saying the Commission would respond promptly to any complaints and that the public could also express concern to the Maori Party and the Speaker of the House. Saturday, 7 November: The Race Relations Commissioner state the issue should be addressed: "It is something that the organisation that they represent or that they are a part of has a responsibility to address. In this case it is important that the Maori party upholds its values and its standards." Tuesday, 10 November: Hone Harawira makes a public apology for any offence caused by his email. The Race Relations Commissioner said the apology was qualified and that it still remained for the Maori Party to reassure the public that the contents of the email did not express the values of the party and that it was up to the Maori Party to take some action to redress the issue. Thursday, 12 November: Following a hui about the issue in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate, Hone Harawira is told by Maori Party leaders to consider becoming an independent MP and leave the Maori Party. The party gives Hone Harawira two weeks to decide how to respond. Friday, 20 November: The Human Rights Commission provides an update on the Hone Harawira issue. The Race Relations Commissioner reiterates the need for the party to take concrete action to address public concern and would be available to offer advice and mediation for the parties if so desired.