Employment Minister Willie Jackson says it would be a waste of time to answer former MP Hone Harawira, who yesterday called him "a skunk" and challenged him to a one-on-one live on television.
With Mr Jackson back in Parliament, Mr Harawira was quick to level criticisms on TVNZ 1's Te Karere yesterday.
"You're a dirty, lowdown skunk. And you need a kick in the arse for saying our people don't care about the foreshore and seabed being stolen. We did then, we do now, and we always will," Mr Harawira said, aiming his remarks directly into the camera.
“I want to talk about what's ahead of us, what lies ahead for Maori
"Anytime you want to argue that point, brother, anytime, any place, you give me a bell, you give me a bell brother, me and you," he said.
Mr Jackson responded yesterday, labelling Mr Harawira "an idiot" and a disgrace, and today on the programme was asked if he wanted to answer him.
"No, it's a waste of time, a waste of time talking about that. I want to talk about what's ahead of us, what lies ahead for Maori," Mr Jackson said.
The foreshore and seabed legislation saw the emergence of the Maori Party, and severe backlash for the Labour Party, but Mr Jackson says he's moving on.
"I don't want to keep going back to the past. I want to look forward to a better future ahead," he said.
At the start of the year, Mr Jackson was a possible candidate for the Maori Party, but switched allegiance to the Labour Party.
He says his focus now is on his job ahead as a new minister for the Government.
"We need to establish better opportunities, better jobs. It's a big challenge for us to grow employment opportunities. I've heard the issues out there, and yes, Maori are over-represented in unemployment numbers," Mr Jackson said.
The Maori Party and Hone Harawira's Mana lost every Maori seat in last month's election to Labour.
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