The mother of Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira has apologised to Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples for calling him spineless and a gutless dog.
However, Titewhai Harawira has told Waatea News that she's not backing down from her view that the party leadership should have come back to the members on whether it should continue to support National's Marine and Coastal Area Bill.
But she says her language was over the top, as she told Dr Sharples at the start of a Tamaki Makaurau electorate committee meeting.
Mrs Harawira says the row over her son's behaviour is being used as a smokescreen to divert attention away from the way the leadership has moved from the party's kaupapa on what should be put in place of the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
