Marama Davidson, who is subject to a complaint that she culturally insulted a Ngapuhi activist, is of Ngapuhi and the daughter of Kiwi actor Rawiri Paratene.

David Rankin, a leader of the Mid North hapu Matarahurahu and chairman of the Hone Heke Foundation, has laid a complaint with the the Human Rights Commission (HRC), which employs Ms Davidson as a human rights and race relations adviser.

Mr Rankin said comments allegedly made by Ms Davidson on the Facebook internet site and the tangatawhenua.com website amounted to "hate speech".

They were derogatory and potentially defamatory, he said.

Mr Rankin claimed Ms Davidson wrote on the website: "David Rankin - pokokohua! I can't wait to tell him to his face!"

Pokokohua is a Maori term that puts someone's head on the same level as food and was one of the most offensive statements any Maori could make to another Maori.

He claimed that on occasions she made her posts during work hours, leaving the impression her views might be those of the HRC.

Ms Davidson is also of Ngapuhi descent, and on her Facebook page points out that she is the eldest child of renowned Kiwi actor Paratene, who has starred in movies such as Whale Rider and An Insatiable Moon.

She lists her high school education as including the class of 1990 at Opononi Area School and the class of 1994 at Northland College.

When asked for comment on the furore, Ms Davidson referred the Northern Advocate to the HRC.

The HRC said it was taking the complaint seriously.

It would be looked at by the commission's executive director, who would write a report for Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan by next Friday.

The commissioner would then discuss the report with Mr Rankin before the matter was taken any further.

Mr Rankin alleges that during the past six months Ms Davidson has attacked him for his views which have included criticising Te Tii Marae for charging journalists at Waitangi on Waitangi Day and describing the hikoi to Parliament over the latest foreshore legislation an "embarrassment" to Maori.

However, Mr Rankin draws the ire of some in Maoridom, some of whom say he has no credibility but has mastered the art of the press release.

He also employed a few choice words of his own to criticise Ms Davidson yesterday, saying she had a problem with free thinkers who didn't toe a "born again" Maori line.

"If you're promoting yourself as part of the Human Rights Commission, you do not say to a Maori, 'Go boil your head'.

"They feel tough behind a computer screen, but they're too frightened to say it to my face.

"We purport aroha and manaakitanga [love and care] but if someone puts a different point of view they want to kill you."

Ms Davidson has been winning support in discussion on the tangatawhenua.com website, one suggesting that his latest comment amounted to threatening violence against a woman.

Ms Davidson did not want to comment yesterday.