Hone goes under cover of earthquake

Written By: - Date published: 4:09 pm, February 22nd, 2011 - 47 comments
Categories: maori party - Tags:

With everyone quite rightly focussed on the destruction in Christchurch, the Maori Party have kicked out Hone Harawira and cancelled his membership.

The Te Tai Tokerau part of the Maori Party were already angry over a lot of things, most recently their not being told when this disciplinary meeting was – meaning they couldn’t attend, and the leaking of Te Ururoa Flavell’s caustic condemnation of his surely now ex-friend.  This must be breaking point for them.

Was it really mana-enhancing to not hold off on this until at least the immediate aftermath of the quake is over?

[Bunji: membership not cancelled yet – the Herald were a bit quick on that!]

47 comments on “Hone goes under cover of earthquake ”

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  1. Colonial Viper 1
    22 February 2011 at 4:30 pm

    This politics stuff is really dirty shit.

    I suppose Mai Chen has advised the Mp that they can do this within the rules of their constitution. Every sign that due process has not been followed though, which means the decision is not likely to stand.

  2. Bright Red 2
    22 February 2011 at 4:31 pm

    technically, he’s not gone just yet. The National Committee will be deciding tomorrow based on the Disputes Tribunal’s recommendations.

    But, yeah, he’s gone.

  3. Carol 3
    22 February 2011 at 4:38 pm

    Hmmm. At the WINZ demo today a couple of speakers mentioned Hone. One guy (who was later arrested) said he was part Maori and supported Hone’s stand for working class Maori. sue Bradford added some supporting comments for Hone. A speaker from unite said now was the time for all groups to unite together, including with Hone and his supporters, and stand up for our rights.

  4. Shane Gallagher 4
    22 February 2011 at 4:38 pm

    The Maori Party certainly have been learning well the lessons of their new friends in the National Party…

    Well, they think they have, but I am guessing the activists will be spitting tacks when word gets out.

    Cue end of Maori Party and start of new party under Hone’s leadership.

  5. Jim MacDonald 5
    22 February 2011 at 4:38 pm

    opportunistically kicking hone out.
    political karma will bite. matter of time.

    captcha: consequence

  6. Andrew Geddis 6
    22 February 2011 at 4:44 pm

    They haven’t kicked Hone out – simply recommended that the Maori Party’s National Committee do so (it is the only body that can take this action). But, as I’ve noted over at Pundit (and Mike Smith subsequently echoed on this site), the National Committee has to make its decisions by consensus … and there are up to 4 members from Hone’s Te Tai Tokerau electorate on the National Committee. So any one of those members (or a member from any other electorate) could stymie this by saying “no”.

    May not be game over just yet.

    • Jim MacDonald 6.1
      22 February 2011 at 4:55 pm

      Ah ok. In transition through chaotic airports.
      Downloading (very slowly) news other than Chch earthquake.

  7. Tiger Mountain 7
    22 February 2011 at 6:01 pm

    Whatever the outcome, Hone has valuably exposed the reality and contradictions of an ethnic based political party operating in a class based society.

    Were it so easy for hard lefties to demonstrate the similar dead end of reformist (all class, collaborationist) parties.

  8. toad 8
    22 February 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Kia kaha, Hone!

    As a Pakeha, it is hard for me to say this as I don’t think Pakeha should normally voice opinions on Maori politics. But I am proud that you, who I have worked with in political struggle for many years, have not gone down the kupapa path that it appears your soon to be erstwhile colleagues are treading.

    Kia ora! Kia kaha! Ka whawhai tonu matou!

    • the sprout 8.1
      22 February 2011 at 7:04 pm

      hear hear

    • Rex Widerstrom 8.2
      22 February 2011 at 7:18 pm

      With respect, that’s a bit precious, toad. We’re all, as NZers, entitled to an opinion on issues affecting Maori just as we can have them on issues affecting other groups of which we may not be a part (beneficiaries, for example). Because what’s done to one, or by one, affects us all.

      If you’re talking decision making then I’d agree with you, in the majority of cases… but again with a rider for decisions made by Maori about Maori issues but which affect others (if, say, they decided to build a great big belching coal-fired power station on Maori land).

      As for your message to Hone: hear hear! Anyone who will not bend when expected to trade their fundamental beliefs for political advancement is worthy of admiration.

      • QoT 8.2.1
        22 February 2011 at 9:23 pm

        We’re all, as NZers, entitled to an opinion on issues affecting Maori

        While this is absolutely true it’s also fair to acknowledge that a shitload of Pakeha’s opinions are not going to be particularly well-informed nor formed from personal experience and knowledge. (My own included.)

        • toad 8.2.1.1
          22 February 2011 at 10:10 pm

          Um, QoT, Rex used to work with Lhaws.

          He despises Lhaws now, probably as much as you and I do,

          But, unfortunately, bigotry is an infectious disease that takes a long time to recover from it. I’m not sure Rex is quite there yet. But I give him credit – he is working on it, and usually doing well.

          • nadis 8.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2011 at 1:26 pm

            Sanctimonious git?

            I’m sure Rex appreciates your condescension. If only we could all think properly like the Greens. Catherine Delahunty is my role model.

          • Rex Widerstrom 8.2.1.1.2
            24 February 2011 at 3:53 am

            To quote another well known bigot, “please explain”… in this case how my holding an opinion about an issue affecting Maori, even if that opinion happens to favour the Maori perspective on the issue, makes me a bigot.

            With special reference to how, as the father of two part-Maori children, I have no right to an opinion on matters that may affect their destiny as proud Maori/Pakeha NZers.

            Off you go…

            And FYI, I never “worked with” Lhaws. He inhabited an office on the same floor. Occasionally I’d receive a message through Sarah Neems that something or other was expected of me. The answer would always be the same, and not repeatable here. So please don’t imply there was ever a time I approved of, did anything to promote, Lhaws’ policies and attitudes.

            I despised him well before he joined NZF which was why, when Winston announced he was coming across, I opposed it from the outset and was one of the few people to act against him (by travelling to Hawkes Bay to talk to people about the scandal that was going on there) and thus preciptated my eventual demise. Not looking for a medal, but accuracy would be nice.

        • Rex Widerstrom 8.2.1.2
          24 February 2011 at 3:56 am

          Acknowledged QoT. Sadly, and somewhat angrily (at the state of uninformedness, not at you!), but acknowledged nonetheless. Though I’d hope that an uniformed opinion (provided not an expression of bigotry) would still be welcomed by Maori as an opportunity to engage and educate, so your opinion becomes better informed. “Shut up, honky,” OTOH, which toad seems to consider the appropriate attitude, if not response, isn’t likely to advance anyone’s understanding.

          • QoT 8.2.1.2.1
            24 February 2011 at 7:47 am

            I don’t mean to accuse you of derailing, Rex, but this link about sums up the problems with that.

            Maori don’t have a duty to sit down and try to get through to every single racist Pakeha they meet in their daily lives. A lot have probably tried and got fed up and yeah, now prefer to just tell people who demand 101-level education in race relations to fuck off, because on top of all the other stresses and oppressions and general shit they get for being Maori, having to play Patient Calm Rational Credit To Their Race is just not on the cards.

            • Rex Widerstrom 8.2.1.2.1.1
              25 February 2011 at 1:30 am

              Yeah I agree… I specifically exclude all opinions prefaced by “The trouble with youse Marris…” and everything of a similar ilk. I truly don’t know how Maori don’t resort to throttling that type.

      • kultur 8.2.2
        22 February 2011 at 9:50 pm

        Have to say though – pragmatism reaches into the culture of our maori brethren as well – fact is Hone regards us white guys as mofos – and colonial usurpers – he wouldnt want to racially mix with any of us – and he would be anti his whanau marrying our children … i mean – he even said it.

        Hone is a bigot – a racist and basically a rogue item … but he could be (now im being pragmatic like the rest of the bastards…) the key to derailing the nact-maori party cabal once and for all.

        Maori are crucial for all of us – but Hone is only a means to an end – he is a short term solution and then should be discarded as he deserves to live out his life as a well paid commentator padding his income with the taxpayers benevolence …. and of course being terribly cultural as he does it …

        Dame Whina Cooper – now there was someone you could respect …

    • kultur 8.3
      22 February 2011 at 10:31 pm

      Of course pakeha should voice opinions on maori politics … we dont live in an apartheid system and it is undemocratic to consider that we should not have a voice.

      I think it is also unwise to ascribe terms such as kupapa dating from the maori wars into a 21st century setting. I suspect that the maori we deal with today have a good deal of understanding that now transcends the paradigms of the 19th century.

      Maori need to stop behaving like some privileged caste system and instead support democratic process that is not based on race….

      • QoT 8.3.1
        22 February 2011 at 10:43 pm

        You know there’s a difference between “white people can never ever ever talk about brown people issues” and “white people sometimes need to shut the fuck up about shit they don’t know anything about”, right?

        • kultur 8.3.1.1
          23 February 2011 at 12:17 am

          Actually QoT im brown and have whakapapa to die for … so perhaps you need to take your own advice matey potatey … and i’ll leave you to read your own statements to that effect

          However i do forgive you for your sin of presumption … you are excused for your ignorance and assumptions …

          And just by the by fella me lad QoT .. i am of the same Iwi and Hapu as Hone – pays not to presume … who are you calling white bro …???

          • Adele 8.3.1.1.1
            23 February 2011 at 6:03 am

            Teenaa koe, kultur

            I also have whakapapa to die for, and your words merely indicate that you have been successfully assimilated into the borg collective / the majority / kuupapa opinion.
            .

          • QoT 8.3.1.1.2
            23 February 2011 at 7:50 am

            who are you calling white bro

            Not you, actually, it was a statement of basic principle. I, as a white woman (but not a bro, sorry), acknowledge that white people do not in general have the experience or knowledge to make informed statements on Maori culture, and I think that’s it’s a bit rich acting like that statement is akin to apartheid. Because … no, not really.

  9. Todd 9
    22 February 2011 at 6:53 pm

    I second that Toad.

    I wonder what else will be snuck in under the radar so to speak. It has certainly taken the focus of the Beemers and Benefit bashing.

    • Carol 9.1
      22 February 2011 at 7:16 pm

      TV3 news has just interrupted its quake coverage to do a bit on Hone by Patrick Gower, who ended saying Hone would end up sitting next to Chris Carter – I think he meant it as a a slur.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1
        22 February 2011 at 7:58 pm

        I think he meant it as a a slur.

        That’s what it seemed like to me as well.

      • toad 9.1.2
        22 February 2011 at 8:30 pm

        And if that happens, I’m confident the Greens will deliver Hone’s proxy vote too. It is a matter of democratic principle.

        I have to say it would have been a big dead rat for the Greens to swallow if David Garrett had decided to stay in Parliament and sought a Green proxy after resigning from ACT. But the democratic principle of MPs being able to vote on behalf of those they represent is more important than party politics.

        Captcha (it really was unfortunate, in the context): “bought”!

      • QoT 9.1.3
        22 February 2011 at 9:23 pm

        I thought he was pitching a hilarious new odd-couple show.

      • kultur 9.1.4
        22 February 2011 at 9:32 pm

        Coming from the most unphotogenic man in NZ complete with speech impediment … it may well have been a slur …

        But thats what you do when you are a media darling …

        • Marty G 9.1.4.1
          22 February 2011 at 9:41 pm

          Don’t be hard on paddy. he’s a good journo. especially when chasing a good story

          • kultur 9.1.4.1.1
            22 February 2011 at 10:17 pm

            Gower is a hack in my opinion – unpracticed and with limited polish or class … he has proved time after time to follow the suck on “keys and nationals dick” line … but thats only the impression i’ve been given from viewing and hearing him.

            NZ media seem to love Key and the neo liberal line … they seem to have an automatic disdain and loathing switch for phil goff and the Left ….

            Gower is not a good journo in my opinion – he is a talking head with various attempts at different and flattering lighting … and being made visible (god help us all) makes you – well – visible and supposedly credible … look what its done for key – i mean if i met key on the street i wouldnt give him the steam off my shit … but hell – women and men in the street seem to want to whip their knickers off and throw them into his BMW in adoration.

            Just a bunch of dumbfucks i guess we all are …

            no accounting for taste is there … vote Labour – if you really want to … if not just keep fucking whinging and moaning … and be prepared to be reamed up the ass for another 10 years or more … “oh but that nice mr key was so good during the earthquake … yeah right” time to get cynical boys and girls and wake up to these pricks once and for all….

      • Jum 9.1.5
        22 February 2011 at 9:56 pm

        Patrick Gower is no friend of the Left.

        I think Hone will have more freedom to speak.

        • Marty G 9.1.5.1
          22 February 2011 at 10:06 pm

          he’s former young labour, apparently. but that doesn’t mean he won’t put getting a story first

          • Carol 9.1.5.1.1
            23 February 2011 at 8:04 am

            Gower an ex-Young Labourite? Ah, that kind of explains something for me. I have been a bit uncertain about Gower’s political position. (In contrast Garner is an out-and-out Key-Nat fanboy). Gower seems to slip along the political spectrum in his reports, being more right wing sometimes, and showing some understanding of (or even empathy for) left views at other times.

            I guess working for a media corporate and fitting in with their kinds of brief and ratings imperatives will be likely to push a journo rightwards.

        • ianmac 9.1.5.2
          22 February 2011 at 11:19 pm

          Patrick certainly has a funny pronunciation of “Maori.” Some people are “Marries.”

      • Lew 9.1.6
        22 February 2011 at 11:10 pm

        Not that independents generally sit on the cross benches, together?

        L

  10. kultur 10
    22 February 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Yes – everyone is focussed on the earthquake – and that will be used by many now as an excuse to do all sorts of things. Political expediency is the order of the day – whether its shoring up bids for mayoralty – negative issues relating to your position as prime minister – and ensuring that the fawning ready to drool media focus on things that keep peoples mind on anything other than what happens in everyday life for others and the wider issues that affect all of us not just one group of people. Its called using others misery to keep attention off other important matters. Political whoredom and expediency are other terms as well…

    Christchurch has served Key well before – so has Pike River – South Canterbury Finance was a great coup for the moneyed elite …. Hone Harawira is the new Hone Heke – and i damn well hope he chops down the flagpole of the Maori Party and the smug Nact sycophants and burns their dreams and aspirations into ashes in their mouths. Maori are the key to retaining sovereignty and access to our country (despite Eru whatsisname who is the wellpaid lapdog of the New Citizen beijing driven party – he is just a whore for money … common to all cultures)

    We need to understand – the new breed of politician on the right is a pragmatist – they adopt a “lie for you and wait” attitude … they dont care about right or wrong .. and even some on the left unwittingly support them by becoming commentators and “serious thinkers of the left” – the darlings of some on the right who just get off on flirting with common decency and humanity (its a fad and a fashion – but hey its exciting for them … they will give up on it when it becomes – well … boring dahling )

  11. deemac 11
    22 February 2011 at 9:51 pm

    how can people be impressed by how HH has handled this? He had great points to make about what the MP leaders have done but instead of using them to build a political platform he has flounced about like a prima donna, shooting his mouth off and generally looking petulant – the MP leadership are not the only ones who have had meetings and not told the other side etc. And if there is any truth at all in what Flavell alleged about Hone’s ambitions it’s extremely damaging to his credibility.
    If he’s your great left hope, god help you.

    • Colonial Viper 11.1
      22 February 2011 at 10:05 pm

      During the formation of the Govt its quite likely that the Mp caucus and party pulled together over promises made by Key, Sharples, Turia over what influence the Mp would have and what it would be allowed accomplish.

      Over time Hawawira found that the reality was not matching the promise. In an extreme fashion.

      Did Harawira angle for a Ministerial post at the outset. It wouldn’t be surprising. He could have used it as part of the internal negotiations leading to the supporting NAT.

      If he’s your great left hope, god help you.

      There is no single saviour for the Left. I hope everyone gets that. It needs to be a team approach and Harawira could be formidable as part of such a team.

      • Crashcart 11.1.1
        22 February 2011 at 11:12 pm

        Unfortunatly he could also be a beath blow. There are enough uninformed racists in this country that if Hone were to team up with the left they would see it as pandering to the radicle. Sorry but that won’t help win an election.

  12. deemac 12
    23 February 2011 at 8:53 am

    Hone as part of a team? Now that IS a funny thought!

  13. marty mars 13
    23 February 2011 at 3:22 pm

    Hone has moved on

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4694616/Harawira-quits-Maori-Party

    I’ve stated on OpenMike that Hone will be a great independent but now is the time to begin building an alternative maori party to oppose the rightwing agenda of the current lot – they have turned to the dark side and cannot be trusted.

  14. richard bartlett 14
    23 February 2011 at 10:13 pm

    I have never understood how The Maori Party, in its present form, could ever survive, given that history demonstrates that all alliances between disparate groups, simply working together to defeat a common enemy are doomed to splinter once that defeat has been achieved.
    Any such alliance whose basic common denominator is race will feature all manner of opinion across a broad spectrum of philosophy and political thought.
    That they might actually progress (even for the good of the majority) and further their interests in the long term, through the daily cut and thrust of parliamentary life is highly unlikely, not to say impossible. For this reason alone, this split in the party was forseen, and fortold the day after it was formed.

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