after becoming a deputy leader, brownlee continued his confrontational and colourful style of political debate. following the controversy surrounding brash's orewa speech of 27 january 2004, brownlee became the national party's spokesman for maori affairs in place of georgina te heuheu, who resigned from the position after refusing to endorse brash's comments. brownlee's approach to this portfolio involved criticising the government's policies regarding perceived special treatment for māori, an issue at the core of national's 2005 election manifesto.