Parliament has ruled comments by a contender for a top job at Maori Television will go on the record.
Paora Maxwell's iwi had complained Labour MP Clare Curran made false allegations about him under parliamentary privilege when she accused Maori TV chair Georgina Te Heuheu of a link with Mr Maxwell - who was shortlisted for the role as the channel's chief executive.
Speaker of the House David Carter has ruled Mr Maxwell's response to the Dunedin South MP's comments will go on the parliamentary record - a decision praised by the tribal authority of Ngati Rangiwewehi of Rotorua. However, it says it only partially restores Mr Maxwell's mana.
Iwi chair Te Rangikaheke Bidois said Ms Curran publicly lambasted Mr Maxwell but had not made a public apology to him, his whanau or his iwi. That made the process incomplete and the authority reiterated its call for her to resign.
In his written response to Parliament, Mr Maxwell said Ms Curran's comments could well have adversely affected his application for the Maori TV role, and any other job he applied for in the public sector.
