Leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour, found himself in a heated debate on Wednesday with Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi about co-governance.
What was intended to be an interview that discussed Labour's policy release, found itself moving in another more tense direction.
During an interview turned debate on the Three's AM show, Waititi described the ACT Party to have "emboldened a narrative" around words like 'co-governance' as well as being a Party that pushed a "fear-mongering campaign".
After a few issues with getting Seymour into the studio, due to originally appear in person, he joined the discussion via phone.
"What specifically is it that we have said that you think is racist rhetoric?" Seymour asked on AM.
Waititi responded: "Oh, look, I'm not going to get into the nitty of that, David, you can work that out."
After the heated debate on AM, Leah & Mark spoke to Seymour, the ACT leader telling Today FM he hasn't been able to work out how he has been racist, after reflecting over Waititi's allegation.
"There's a group of people who use words without even thinking about the facts or their meaning," Seymour said.
"There is no answer to that question because all ACT ever does is believe everyone should be treated equally. We believe in universal human rights."
Seymour told Leah & Mark that Te Pāti Māori are the real racists in Parliament, not ACT.
"They attack people relentlessly for racism, they don't know what they're talking about, and they can't give a specific example," Seymour said.
"Their basic way of operating is to blather on, shout over and bully people, and when they get challenged with any facts, they just revert to saying that everyone must be racist."
"The sad thing is they hold themselves to a lower standard because they think that by birth they are entitled to special treatment."
Listen to the full interview between David Seymour and Leah & Mark above.
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