Hone did a Gordon Copeland
March 8th, 2011 at 6:12 pm by David FarrarOh how embarassing.
The House just had the second reading of the Marine and Coastal Area Bill (which it passed). Labour gave one of their spots to Hone Harawira so he could rail against it on the grounds it doesn’t give Maori title to the entire foreshore & seabed.
Then they had the vote – and Hone didn’t vote. So the issue on which he effectively left the Maori Party, he failed to vote on.
This has happened before. Gordon Copeland left United Future over the anti-smacking law. And then he forgot to vote on the actual bill and become a political laughing stock.
Hone is finding out the hard way there is more to being an MP than just mouthing off. Sometimes you need to actually do shit such as vote.
I understand at least one member of the press gallery joked this morning how hilarious it would be if Hone did a Copeland and forgot to vote. From reports, the entire gallery almost hit the floor in laughter.
Related posts:
- Why Hone is a good activist but a lousy politician
- Harawira on FSA
- Goff rules out Hone but not Winston
- Hone’s comparison
March 8th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
he was a laughing stock well before this .. maybe he couldn’t get hold of his mum to find out what to do
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
what a moron
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Hone should have given his proxy to the Greens.
Vote:They are happy to cast votes on behalf of useless independent MP’s.
March 8th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Phew he’s a pretty bright sort of a feller for a cuzzie eh.
Must have got his brains from his mum eh bro?
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Thick as pig shit, guess he can also blame this one on “white mother fuckers ‘
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Ummm. . .
Do you think that this will make the radio and TV news and appear in all those newspapers which hang on all the Hariwera’s utterances?
No? Neither do I.
Funny that – isn’t ‘the media’ selective. . . ?
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
he said on the TV news that it wasn’t his fault and he is disappointed he was let down
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
To their credit, TVNZ just mentioned Hone’s non-attendance in the house for the vote.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Give credit where credit is due:-
http://www.3news.co.nz/Harawira-forgets-to-vote-in-foreshore-bill/tabid/419/articleID/201434/Default.aspx
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
3 News rang Mr Harawira to ask him why, he made it clear he had forgotten.
how on earth could he have forgotten . my God
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
This just proves that Maori have poor access to voting in parliament. Surely we should pay Maori MPs more to make up for past injustices, and level the playing field. I’d say we should give them free transport to help them vote – but then all the pollies already get that.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
My guess is that the hard drive is spinning but the OS hasn’t been installed.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
nasska
Very good. Very good indeed.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Hone shouldn’t be bound by a pakeha concept like time. He spoke out against the bill and if you racist whiteys don’t get that that constituted a vote, then you perpetuating colonial racism from the 19th century. Kia Kaha hone, your silence is a golden stand against the big business pakeha overlords.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Further confirmation Hone is not only a Maori thug but an imbecile too.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Hone feels let down.
Let down that he didn’t bother to learn how to cast a vote.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
I’d like to give poor old Hone the benefit of the doubt…but when I saw this 55 year-old man recently throwing out LA ‘Gangsta’ style hand signals to the cameras and waiting crowd (making even the teenagers cringe)..It made me think that perhaps this supposed ‘Member of Parliament’ is in fact the complete and utter moron everyone who has met him says he is.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
So is Hone on walkabout? It’s not the first time he’s been MIA.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Whoops!
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Hone applied for a job as a Representative for his electorate. The people accepted his application and he became a Member of Parliament. Hone had a maori day off today, He did not go to work today, like everybody else. Today was a very important day in Parliament, they where going to have a vote, a very very important vote. Where was Hone? He was doing just what he did in Paris. Sweet bugger all. The taxpayer pays again for the wasted space!!!
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Is he just keeping his powder dry? Oh Wait …………….
Just how hard would it be to cast a vote if you were him? Is there a special place to go to? A place that may be a secret? Has he voted before?
Just a thought.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Why accept he forgot?
If he isn’t a fool he’s checked the water since he parted with the MP, and found his constituency isn’t very interested in the issue, have other issues they want him to concentrate on, and have little interest in a maverick independent MP with a Gangsta attitude.
He’s no longer L’Enfant terrible of the Maori Party to be fondly recalled by his friends and whanau but someone who has split Northland from the Maori mainstream.. goodbye Holiday Highway.
JC
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
Was he in Paris?
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
But he had announced that had given his proxy vote to the Maori Party, so he didn’t even have to be in the House, the MP whip or duty member would have cast his vote the way he had indicated he wanted it cast.
So did he forget to fill in the proxy form?
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
And then there’s the business of Labour giving up one of their slots to allow him to speak.. another brilliant Labour ally.
JC
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Forget Hone,any National MP’s with balls enough to vote the way they know they should?
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
@ Sooty; Hone DID go to work today. He spoke in the debate; Labour gave him one of their speaking slots. He was the 9th out of 12 speakers. He only had to hang around for another 30 minutes to be present for the vote. He’s taking the piss, I reckon.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
So it is now NZ Parliamentary record: Te tai Tokerau have no objections to the Marine & Coastal Area Bill – Hone Harawira, their MP/representative, has no objections to the Bill.
Good. Glad that’s settled.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I’m not convinced that he forgot. I was in the house for the debate and vote, and my impression was that he quite deliberately made a point of leaving halfway through Tau Henare’s (awful) speech, and just before the vote. He was about to leave earlier, but checked with one of the messengers as to how long there was to go, and sat down again. I think he chose not to vote with the”noes” in this instance, because it would have aligned him with Labour (who started this disaster), and Act (who are a bunch of racists in his – and Tau Henare’s- mind). In his mind, he made his point with his speech.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
finlayson was in the local paper saying how great it was to have a voice like hones…
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Hone’s faults are bviously the fault of the colonisation process.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
“…how great it was to have a voice like hone’s”
For what? making announcements in a shopping mall when the PA system has broken down?
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Typical. What a waste of our money.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
And we pay this fucking clown. Sure take a principled stand etc etc, but to forget to vote, the guy is only there for the pay cheque and the platform. If he was my employee (which I suppose he is) I’d be docking pay and perks.
Vote:March 8th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
“any National MP’s with balls enough to vote the way they know they should?”
Vote:Yes. All of them.
March 8th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
From the Journal of House of Representatives, Wednesday 16 May 2007:
3. Resignation of member
The Speaker advised the House that she had received a letter from Gordon Copeland advising that he had resigned from the United Future Party, and will be an Independent member.
4. Members’ orders of the day
Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill
Sue Bradford moved, and the question was proposed, That the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.
On the question, That the bill be now read a third time, the votes were recorded as follows:
Ayes 113 New Zealand Labour 49; New Zealand National 48; New Zealand First 4 (Brown, Donnelly, Stewart, Woolerton); Green Party 6; Māori Party 4; United Future 1 (Dunne); Progressive 1
Noes 8 New Zealand First 3 (Mark, Paraone, Peters); United Future 1 (Turner); ACT New Zealand 2; Independents: Copeland, Field
ref: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Journals/4/c/1/48HOHJournals200705151-Journals-of-the-House-for-the-week-beginning.htm#_Toc194745238
[DPF: As you know he sought and got leave of the House for his vote to be recorded later]
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 1:57 am
The man’s a clown. There is no credibility in forcing a caucus showdown on an issue that you then forget to vote on.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 6:38 am
@ Graeme E Copeland was allowed to add his vote later by leave of Parliament. http://www.presscouncil.org.nz/display_ruling.php?case_number=2031
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Mnnnnn
Vote:I stand to be corrected…
But did not Hone give his proxy to the Maori Party ?
March 9th, 2011 at 7:29 am
Where is the urbane and civilised GrumpyOldHori to defend his mate, the thug Harawira?
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 7:41 am
Why is this even news? He is a has been, who gives a flying rat’s arse what he does, it will have no impact on everyday life.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 7:46 am
Lazy,and poor work ethic.
No company would ever hire a guy like this.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 7:47 am
Oh, and another thing, he probably does not even care.
To normal people it would be embarrassing, but to Hone, couldnt care less.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 8:25 am
Hey Hone had more important things to do… bitch about his office and seat in the house being at the top of his list.
Get those baubles sorted first then he’ll think about doing his job. Maybe.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 8:47 am
Harawira is reported as calling ACT ” a bunch of racists..” a rich irony coming from that prick.
When I was in the House, Harawira told me more than once “your wife’s blacker than me, eh bro?” My answer was always a variation of “that’s correct Hone…and your point is?”
When I had my little discussion with him in the airport as couple of weeks ago the bit Gower didnt bother to report was my parting shot: “My wife is still blacker than you Hone – but no-one but racists like you care.”
Great news that he and Sue are forming a left wing party…that’s a centre right government assured for a couple of terms at least.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 8:55 am
Surely that much leftist ego concentrated in one party will cause a poltical black hole event horizion.
Approved.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 9:19 am
@ David Garrett. I think it was Tau Henare who called Act and the Coastal Coalition racists.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 10:19 am
Loser. And his electorate will still vote him back as their MP. Morons.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Isn’t it interesting that in Hone and Tau’s world everyones a racist except those brown skinned chaps who believe that they belong to a special race entitled, for differing reasons, to special rights and privileges. A consultation of the old Concise Oxford would do those boys a world of good…something I’d be prepared to wager Hone at least has never done…
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Homer Hawawira…d’oh..love it.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Oh how embarrassing Hone has performed a symbolic gesture that has lifted his profile and further solidified his base. He must be kicking himself now…. lol You guys just don’t have a clue do about how the media and politics work do you?
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 11:19 am
I think, from now on when i read kiwiblog i’m going to have to listen to this for theme music.
Vote:
March 9th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Isn’t this arguably the most important part of his job??
What are the penlaties for forgetting?
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Hone missed the chance to vote against the Bill. How convenient.
Vote:Half loaf of ninnys half baked bread is still in the same racist direction
March 9th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
The Dompost quoted Hone the racist as saying “Gee, I’m dumb” when they asked him what happened. About time we had a politician able to tell the truth.
I don’t think National realise the problems they are causing with their new S & F bill. I, for one, won’t be voting for them again after this goes through and the Professional Part-Maoris start charging for access to the beaches.
Vote:March 9th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
I sorry, reading the story I wrongly assumed he was not at work. He was and also spoke in the house. He just slipped out the back and went walkabout.
Vote: