Hone stays
The Herald reports:
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has apologised again for comments made in an offensive email and is allowed to remain with the party following three weeks of debate over his future. …
Mr Harawira began a media conference in Wellington to outline what action the party was taking with an apology – this time more fulsome than his previous effort.
He apologised to both Maori and Pakeha for the comments, saying they were “insensitive, hurtful and unnecessary” and had caused much grief.
He also acknowledged he was responsible for damaging his party, saying it had spent four years building up credibility and good will.
“My comments have derailed much of that credibility and set back our efforts to build bridges for our people into the future.”
A split from the Maori Party would have been a lose/lose for the Maori Party and Harawira in my opinion.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Countdown to thread explosion in 3 … 2 …
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Hone is sorry – yeah right. He is just as sorry as all the pricks who are convinced by their legal advisor that remorse will likely get a reduction in penalty when in fact they are all only sorry that they were exposed and not sorry for what they did.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 am
Dear New Zealand
I got away with it.
Regards
Hone
p.s Fuck you
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 am
We knew he was never going to leave.
The hui’s were just a stalling tactic (and often are).
Racism is alive and well in New Zealand.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 am
It probably is a win/win as you say but the elephant in the room is that it would be almost impossible for a pakeha MP to get away with a racist tirade like that. By get away with I meant remain an MP. Winston might get close (although isn’t he Italian?!!) but he had his own cult, erm, party that would never sack him.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 am
..honestly…what else did you expect…pfft…but its all ok cos Im allowed to call hone a black muvva fucker now without fear of reprisal…the establishment says its ok.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Apology accepted, FWIW. I was never too fussed about the comments in the first place. Sticks & stones, people.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Is anyone really surprised? I mean really?
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Was there ever any doubt the racist trougher would stay? The whole affair has been a farce from the beginning.
The racist party had no intention to punish the maverick MP. After all the crude Harawira embodies everything the Maori Party represents.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
what a long/tedious soap-opera this has been…
but really..
turia wanted him gone..
so..hone vs. tariana..
clearly came out as a hone-victory..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
then there is the simplistic/hysterical/deeply-racist opinion of the manolo..
(take yr pick..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
The Maori Party had no choice. Harawira has too much support among Maoridom for his principles and attitudes. If he had been expelled it would have torn the party apart. Who would have benefited from that? Labour obviously. Maori obviously not.
I think Harawira is sincere in apologising for the damage he has done to his party. He may also be sincere in regretting his choice of language. He has not apologised for any other sins and isn’t sorry for them.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
plus..harawira has ‘clean hands’ on the sell-out to national..over the e.t.s..
he argued against it..
and didn’t have to vote on it..
but his marker is still clearly in the ground..
as being against this travesty..
(all in all..he’s done quite well..hasn’t he..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Looks like Labour get the shaft again. Nice.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
@LUCY
No, just some realpolitik 101 being played out. Everybody saves a bit of face, everybody compromises a little.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
THIS white MoFo just couldn’t get all that excited about this saga.
Harawira appears to be going all-out for the people he is in parliament to represent… if an excess of zeal was a crime, we wouldn’t have a Kiwiblog now would we?
And Maori Party strategy is hardly unique in having one loose cannon near the top, whose reputation allows him to get away with saying what the rest may be thinking. Look at Labour (Mallard) and Act (Garrett)…
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
was the only outcome in reality… just like rodney was never going to get dumped cos of his “key don’t do shit’ comment and his rorting of the system (which was worse than Hone’s)
the small parties need the numbers/popularity as do the nats
on another note… DPF, when are you going to comment on the ETS ( your being suspiciously quiet on that front – wonder why???l )
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Trevor punches people and isn’t sacked – it wouldn’t be natural justice to sack Hone for this… Move on people, accountability for ones actions is only for the Hoi polloi, politicians are above such an annoying concept.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Jim Hopkins came up with a word for this – exHonerated.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Good on the Maori Party, it takes real courage to pardon a racist and make forgiving them so easy. Maybe the Maori Party should merge with NZ First, given it’s new found charity.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
The retention of Hone Harawira is a lose/lose for the Maori Party. The have saddled themselves with an unacceptable face of racism that will drag them down the same was that Clark wore Winston Peters like lead lifejacket.
This will make them appear (quite possibly accurately) as a party of pure self interest and racial speratisim. This will go down with most kiwis like a cup of cold sick.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
The good thing about this episode in our history is that we Europeans no longer have to be politically correct, and it is official policy as the maoris have shown, we can now be honestly and openly racist, just as they are.
And we don’t need a race relations conciliator any more so the dutch socialist bedwetter that heads it can go fishing now, in the north sea preferably.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Hone the leader? Piss off. He’s leading people into the past and entrenching their pointless and self-perpetuating sense of victim-hood. And enriching himself in the process.
The only redeeming feature is that the Maori Party can be rightly accused of holding racist views and playing fast and loose with history for their own ends.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Also Key knows Act will continue to sit up and beg, as long as Maori party is part of the equation.
RRM Likes this
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Yeah, John Keyless can play Maori votes off against ACT votes, so he can carry out his cunning plan….. to do sweet FA.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
“..Hone the leader? Piss off…”
of course harawira is favourite to replace sharples..when he bows out..
who else..?
(this succession-question is another reason turia wanted harawira gone..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Hawawira’s crude statements and the attitudes that they confirmed were disgraceful. His apology means little to me until he evidences it in his actions and statements over a sustained period of time.
But … the man retains my respect for his principled and impassioned denunciation of the Electoral Finance Bill (and its duplicitous authors) during the Bill’s final reading. That speech deserves to be read again from time to time to remind us of the talent that Harawira (or an anonymous speechwriter?) actually possesses.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
That’s another plus for this outcome. If Hone becomes leader, I’ll give it one more election before the party is dead in the water. Although it would probably take the abolition of the Maori seats to sink it completely.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
You guys are too rough on poor Hone Harawira.
He brings a unique persepctive to parliament as well as a strong personality and colourful personal history. He speaks for a certain section of the population and is loyal to them. He wont mince his words and he will say what he thinks.
Just like that great American politician Robert Byrd.
Seriously, we should never underestimate the value to the country of truly racist parliamentarians. How is it democratic NOT to have at least a few aggressively bigoted people in the government?
And the great thing about Hone is that he is blatantly racist, so the left can rail against HIM rather than having to imagine and invent racism in other obviously non-racist people like Don Brash. Which just makes them even more pathetic and irrelevant.
We all know the left say they hate racists. But they apparantly “hate” racists enough to be completely lost when there is no genuine racists around to hate. So they will just choose someone, seemingly at random but always on the party that opposes their own, and claim that that person is racist.
Happy days. No longer will they have to use a giant leap of imagination and a Gordian knot of twisted logic to claim that a speech calling for the equal treatment of all people regardless of race was somehow racist.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
KKK member Robert Byrd? Yeah, I see your point.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
serge
Quite right. Lucky they didn’t sack Hone actually, there is so few tax paying brown people in NZ as it is. Lucky for us Hone is working rather than growing pot and living on the dole like all of his mo-fo brown mates.
And if you don’t like me saying that then you can go get F%$#ed as well.
Yours, White scum (tax-payer) burt.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Burt, all you need to do now is say, ‘I’m sorry if anyone might be offended’ and we’ll all have to forgive you
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Wonder when/if we’ll be seeing an apology from Goff to all the people he offended with his racist speech last week.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I’m a leftist, and I’ve never done that.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm
redqueen
That was exactly my point… Still I guess it is good that in Hone we have a brown boy who hasn’t killed his own children.
Ooops, – I’m sorry if anyone might be offended – but I like to say it like it is.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
toad
You know how Labour operate – it is OK when Labour do it. Don’t expect an apology from Goff anytime soon – he was trained by Helen who was trained by Muldoon.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
A split from the Maori Party would have been a lose/lose for the Maori Party and Harawira in my opinion.
yeah and a win/win for New Zealand
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
That just means you’re not a true leftist.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I think he’s talking about the strawmen leftists Ryan.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
The Dutchie de Bres has really lost out here. Any attempt by the little clog wearer to label a whitey a racist will be laughed at.
We can all do a Harawira as much as we like now and the PC anal retentive one will have no case.
Thank you Hone (Johnny) for breaking the shackles of the left and allowing free speech.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
gee..!..pick at the race-scab…
..and out they crawl..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
lastmanstanding
No, perceptions of racism are based on social conditioning – they are not absolute and that is a big problem.
Example;
NZ has a separate electoral role only for Maori people. This statement is true and very few people call it racist.
NZ has a separate electoral role only for White European people. This statement is false and if it were true would cause a lot of outrage.
But wait – isn’t a race based electoral role a race based electoral role irrespective of how socially conditioned we are to accepting it ?
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Goddam, what am I going to do with all of these red and black flags?
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
philu
Not quite: Put a band-aid over the festering race boil and watch some people say; NO – it needs lancing.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I hope Hone shows true grattitude for the white mans civillising influence. Before we came he would have been killed and eaten for pissing off his Rangatiras.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I hardly see how a good lancing would solve the problem.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Ryan, how did you even know where to look for the Lance thing???
I am astounded……………………….
What made you think of it????
Funny but Sheesh
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
David Farrar is one of the best political commentators in NZ and all he can up with
“A split from the Maori Party would have been a lose/lose for the Maori Party and Harawira in my opinion”
Is he on a plane or been arrested by the Iranian Internal Friendship Police??
Philu so far has got more insight.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Twitter updates do indicate he is no longer in Iran, but it is a long, gruelling flight back to NZ and I don’t think he’ll be on top of his (blog) game for a few more days.
And he may have to catch up with stuff that is more germane to his work…
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
RRM if you think it is a strawman attack, then you must also be oblivious to the vitriol the Left dumped onto Don Brash for the Orewa speech. I cant see how you could be because they were quite shrill about it.
Go have a look at the Standard to see what the left was saying at the time and since.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
It’s a long and sordid story. First I thought Lance Armstrong, then figured it’d be better to find someone hilariously and famously racist named “Lance”, so I searched Wikipedia for people named Lance and found the porn star.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
It’ll be interesting to see where John Key spends Waitangi Day, 2010.
Last time he was happy to hongi with Hone and Titewhai. All friends together. Up at Waitangi was where the Prime Minister belonged, he said. He wasn’t Helen Clark, he would always front up.
Next time? Prior engagement? Rugby match?
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hone’s foul mouthed racist rave does not do me any harm. However, they do more harm to the majority of Maori who have the same basic goals as the rest of us – get a good job. own their own home, provide for their retirement and raise their children to be more successful than themselves. His racist comments will create some sort of backlash that will do the most harm to Maori. I am a landlord and would not decline Maori because of his comments. Sadly, there are some landlords and employers who would.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
“Well, this all seems in order. But I’m afraid there’s a problem. You’re a Maori, and I heard a Maori be racist once, and I hate racism, so you’ll have to find somewhere else to live/work. But please refer any Pakeha friends on to me!”
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
They’re job is already done for you Chuck.
You’re talking like we’re different peoples. Us and them, the language of sepratism and you didn’t even notice.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
gee, big surprise.
can some white MP take a bullet for the team? some sorta racist rant? “brown motherfuckers make up most of the prison population” something like that.
just to see the reaction.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
“..NO – it needs lancing…”
coming from a steaming racist like yrself..burt..
don’t you men ‘they need lancing’..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
philu
Hone might suggest that – I probably should as well… But I guess it is OK for Hone to say it but when I copy him I’m a racist. You prove my point very very well. Thanks.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Here, here, Burt, you even racist you
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Toad
Do you really think Goff’s speech was racist, or are you trolling?
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Murray, I read you blog. Hone’s racist comment do not justify you racist joke.
I arrive in New Zealand in 1966. There used to be ads for flats in the paper that would end “no Maoris need apply”. That sort of blatant racism no longer exists but Maori are sometimes still denied accommodation purely on the basis of the colour of their skin. It is an indisputable fact that Maori alive today have suffered this humiliating form of discrimination. It stills goes on to a limited degree but fortunately not near so often. Racist have to let their own flats. Rental agents would not risk discriminating for them.
To claim I am speaking the language of separatism in a nonsense. You racist attitude is as damaging as Hone’s
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Hone WON. Mummy WILL be pleased!
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Hone stays while kiwi racism plays. Can’t say anymore or else Miss Big Bruv and her twin brother silly dorker will help the slimy toad start a flame war. Can I say Hone you are a ….!!!!!! No `10000 demerits so big blouse is happy. Only a RETARD would say they are proud to be a kiwi. Go fuck yourself bro and co!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
This Hone saga just shows how spineless that prick John Key is. How could anybody respect such a gutless sell out Prime Minister.And, I thought that Klarkula thingy was bad. FFS!