A leaked email has revealed Act New Zealand leader Don Brash and his closest supporters were fully supportive of the canned "Maorification" advert.
Dr Brash wrote to his 2011 election campaign team days before the advertising campaign was to begin, saying he was determined to go with it.
"I think we should work on the assumption that the ad will proceed later this week unless something seriously derails it."
But the advert was swapped for another considered less offensive - and deputy leader John Boscawen was blamed for softening Act's approach.
The leaked emails come at a time of concern in some sections of the party over its direction on race relations.
On Friday it issued its list of 47 election candidates, with only one identifying as Maori.
The party has also accepted a $100,000 donation from millionaire Louis Crimp, who has outspoken views on Maori.
The previous weekend the party invited back businessman Kevin Campbell, kicked out for calling the Prime Minister "John the Jew".
Dr Brash rejected descriptions of a rift in the party but accepted he did not have full support as leader.
On the dumping of the "Maorification" advert, he said: "I changed my mind."
In one leaked email, Brash said the advert had won the approval of Epsom candidate John Banks and Peter Huljich, their former business partner.
Huljich is currently facing criminal charges brought by the Financial Management Authority.
But the advert was canned just before publication, after the caucus objected and Brash had a change of heart.
Act marketing guru John Ansell quit after his "Maorification" ad was canned and another option headlined "Apartheid Aotearoa" was also passed over.
