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Insight for Sunday 7 February 2010

  • Insight for 7 February: Racism

    8:12 AM.In the wake of the Hone Harawira email controversy Richard Pamatatau explores the extent of racism in New Zealand. Audio

Dr Thomas Robinson with his wife Dr Tsui Wen Chen, who is sometimes mistaken for a mail-order brideLast year a racially charged email sent by the Maori Party MP Hone Harawira drew a record number of complaints to the Race Relations Office.

People were upset by the use of obscenities, plus comments that were perceived to be racist towards white people.

Talkback radio hosts, Internet bloggers and a raft of commentators all weighed-in to debate the significance of Mr Harawira's comments.

But why did it provoke so much controversy?

Is it because many New Zealanders believe that racist attitudes are no longer tolerable?

And if so how accurate is that picture?

Our Pacific Issues Correspondent Richard Pamatatau has been finding out.

A warning that at the beginning of the programme some of the emails with language that could offend some listeners are read out.

Photo: Dr Thomas Robinson with his wife Dr Tsui Wen Chen, who is sometimes mistaken for a mail-order bride.