Shane Jones and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have traded personal blows in a heated debate on Breakfast this morning.
The New Zealand First deputy leader and Te Pāti Māori co-leader were on the show to discuss this morning's protests organised by Te Pāti Māori in response to the new Government's policies related to co-governance and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Jones said the notion the Government had racist policies was "theatre" and said Te Pāti Māori was focussed on victimhood.
"Debbie trades on victimhood and that has become the kaupapa of the Māori Party which erodes New Zealand’s unity and integration. I’m all about putting that kaupapa on the back paddock," Jones said.
Ngarewa-Packer hit back, saying she didn't accept men bullying her, describing Jones as a "misogynistic old dinosaur".
"We are women who have now enjoyed their own views, enjoyed our own aspirations and continue to push back against this type of misogynistic attitude that comes from old dinosaur politicians," she said.
Taken aback, Jones said: "We shouldn't allow these debates to degenerate into personal attacks."
"Well you did Shane," Ngarewa-Packer clapped back.
"You are just used to bullying women and you don’t like that I don’t accept that, never will, never have."
Earlier in the heated debate, Ngarewa-Packer said the protests were a push back against what she described as the Government's "anti-Māori policy programme".
"We will heed the call of our people unlike some who dine off their whakapapa and we will continue to push that forward to this government. The kaupapa that we have is a government that has enjoyed the division and the fact that Māori don’t have rights and interests and inequities to address. The fact that they’re comfortable pushing us back 50 years is not going to be tolerated."
Jones said it was democratic right to protest, but said democracy was "celebrated" on October 14 when the election took place.
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