Ngapuhi embarrassed by Harawira

Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, November 11th, 2009 - 19 comments
Categories: maori party, racism - Tags:

Check out this press release:

Maori Leader Rejects Harawira Apology as “Embarrassing” and issues his own apology
Ngapuhi Leader and senior relative to Hone Harawira, David Rankin, says he is embarrassed by the apology the MP has given.

“Harawira has disgraced our iwi with his gutter language, and has casued more racial division in New Zealand society than any other single person in a generation”, says Mr Rankin.

“As an MP, we expect certain standards, and instead, Mr Harawira has dragged down all of Ngapuhi to his level. I, and other kaunatua, are deeply ashamed, especially for the offence it has caused our Pakeha brothers”, says Mr. Rankin.

Mr Rankin, as the senior member of Mr. Harawira’s hapu, has today formally apologised to Parliament, Ngapuhi, and the people of New Zealand, for his relative’s outburst, and will be approaching him in the next few weeks to remind him that his priority as MP is to focus on his work in Parliament and the electorate, and not to be sidetracked by opportunities for personal gain.

Wow. Pretty major public slap in the face. Harawira has clearly burnt a lot of his mana amongst Ngapuhi.

Rightly so. Even if you somehow think Hone’s comments or actions are justified, and I certainly do not, they are incredibly politically stupid. He has damaged his own cause with his loud mouth.

Single-handedly, Harawira has brought racial division back to the fore in this country. For no good reason. Just to try to cover his arse for screwing around in Paris when he was meant to be working.

I don’t know what should happen to him now. The Maori Party probably needs to get rid of him for their own good. He’ll be better off out of their too. The Greens won’t touch him unless they’re completely braindead. Maybe he could strike out as an independent.

Labour should find a decent candidate for 2011 – Kelvin Davis has it in him. Could be a three way race.

19 comments on “Ngapuhi embarrassed by Harawira ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tammy Gordon 1
    11 November 2009 at 10:57 am

    Ditto the Wow.

  2. gitmo 2
    11 November 2009 at 11:24 am

    Any relation to this Dave Rankin …….. any axe to grind there y’reckon ?

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0809/S00286.htm

    • Bright Red 2.1
      11 November 2009 at 11:27 am

      so are you defending harawira?

      Rankin is head of Ngapuhi. He’s also stood for another party. So what?

      Do you think that he went and made that statement on the behalf of Ngapuhi as its leader without getting the backing of the rest of the leadership first?

  3. Brett Dale 3
    11 November 2009 at 11:26 am

    Well done to David Rankin, he sums up Hone perfectly.

  4. Bright Red 4
    11 November 2009 at 11:35 am

    I don’t care that if you look at Hone’s exact words he was being metaphorical. It’s like when the nats were saying that ‘technically Brash didn’t say anything racist against Maori’ at Orewa.

    the true meaning is clear and is unacceptable.

    Goff was excellent on Breakfast this morning. A lot of Kiwis will be happy to hear him say that. It makes a contrast to Key’s blowing in the wind.

  5. burt 5
    11 November 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Good time to get rid of the racist maori roll – look at the low quality of representation it delivers.

    • bill brown 5.1
      11 November 2009 at 1:18 pm

      Good time to get rid of the vote for the people of Epsom look at the low quality of representation it delivers.

    • Bright Red 5.2
      11 November 2009 at 1:23 pm

      remember, you hero Key sold out on that, burt so that he could get Hone’s vote. The maori seats are staying.

    • lprent 5.3
      11 November 2009 at 1:43 pm

      And this is different from Epsom electing Rodney – how?

      • Tigger 5.3.1
        11 November 2009 at 1:49 pm

        Yep, if we’re judging the electoral roll by the quality of the elected officials we might as well dump democracy altogether.

  6. Roger 6
    11 November 2009 at 1:24 pm

    There is no doubt that Hone’s comments were offensive and racist. Phil Goff got this one spot on. The real issue now is how the Maori Party and the government respond. Is racism acceptable in the Maori Party or in a support partner for National? Will the PM ensure that racism among the government’s parliamentary supporters is not condoned? Will Hone be sidelined or shielded by the Maori Party?

  7. Zaphod Beeblebrox 7
    11 November 2009 at 1:28 pm

    Key = waste of space when it comes to articulating leadership on these and other critical issues. Does he have an opinion? Does he have a vision for race relations? If everybody acted like HH, where would we be?

  8. Walter 8
    11 November 2009 at 2:59 pm

    I don’t know if Mr Rankin reads The Standard, but I’d like to say:

    Kia Ora David, thank you for saying that, greatly appreciated. It’s good to know that Hone does not speak for all Maori.

  9. rangatiratanga 9
    12 November 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Harawira should be reminded that he is playing with taxpayers money. It incurs certain obligations. These include open, honest, and ethical reporting on the uses it has been put to. Failure to do this incurs certain sanctions. It would appear that he has passed the threshold for their implementation. An inquiry by the Auditor General may be appropriate.

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