Hone Harawira and the Maori Politic
- Details
- Parent Category: News
- Category: First Nations & International News
- Published: 31 March 2011
By Winona LaDuke
Special to News From Indian Country March 2011
Hone Harawira is a member of the New Zealand Parliament representing the Maori party in New Zealand.
His electorate is the far north of New Zealand, including his home community of Kaitaia. Of the l20 members in Parliament, some 20 are Maori, with a number of Maori appointed to various political positions in the federal government. And, in a somewhat unique political configuration, there are seven seats for which only Maori can vote in the national parliament, and of those, five seats are members of the Maori party, and two are members of the Labor Party.
In the 30 years of recent Maori activism, much has been accomplished- language use rose from around 3% to almost l00% of Maori language knowledge, at least 30% of Maoris estimated to be fluent speakers. There are over l00 language immersion schools, and some 50 tribal communities of Maoris, with various community development corporations, a huge Maori media empire (radio, print and television), and political appointments in federal agencies as well as political power as members of parliament.
There are around 700,000 Maori in New Zealand, (representing maybe one fifth of the population). Of the 66 million acres in the Country, the Maori have 3 million acres remains as Maori land, that is communally held land and then theres general ie Fee simple) title.
We did not get anything without a fight. You always have to fight to gain, Hone Harawira reminds me. Indeed, that is the case.
Harawira is a seasoned activist, one of the few members of Parliament with a long arrest record for protesting - for land rights of Maoris, environmental rights, and in support of South African Apartheid That was the freakiest experience of my life, Hone tells me, of his meeting of South African Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. In was l983, and Hone had been charged with 96 years worth of felonies including participating in a riot (2 charges), and assault with intent to create grievous bodily harm (four charges), There were ten others charged in this same case, and many others charged for protesting. It was a result of the South African Springboks coming to play Rugby at the height of the Apartheid. (See recent movie Invictus- starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman for a version of this story)
We opposed the charges but the case went for a couple of years from l98l to l983. In those two years, my defense lasted maybe 45 minutes.
The date came for the final trial in l983. Hone has an epiphany, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu has come to New Zealand to talk about apartheid at the invitation of the Anglican Church. Hone will request Desmond Tutu as an expert witness. No one thinks that is possible, but Hone is believing. It is Hones mother Titifie Harawira who is active in the Anglican Church, and she goes to speak to Bishop Tutu. So, there the l0 defendants sit in an Auckland Court house, all facing major felony charges from protesting the apartheid team. Hone has elected to defend himself. He testifies in a jury trial. Then, there is a head poking in the back of the court room, it is one of my colleagues. He nods to me, as I am sitting in the dock (the witness stand) completing my testimony." The Judge turns to Hone and asks if he has a witness to bring forward. Hone Harawira calls Bishop Desmond Tutu to the stand. With Desmond Tutus testimony the delegation of primarily Maori and Pacific Island protesters are acquitted of all charges.
It is twenty seven years later, and Hone Harawira is an uncompromising member of Parliament, a leader in the country.
On Compromise: Compromise your strategies not your principles . Be bold in our positions When governments say, Maori need to be realistic. What they are really saying is no. But that shouldnt make us afraid to say what is our people want, and commit ourselves to doing our best in achieving it. If we are not successful dont let it be because we let somebody else stop us from daring to succeed.
On Representation: I dont really carry about what the rest of the constituents think, because I care about what the Maori say. Thats because there are another l00 or so Members of Parliament who can represent their interests, and they will definitely not represent the Maori interests
On Literacy: The Maori people drafted a declaration of independence, with the assistance of come British advisors in l835. Five years later, the treaty of Waitangi was signed recognizing Maori sovereignty rights to natural resources and land, and also recognizing the governance over the rest of the country by Britain. At the time of the signing of the treaty, the Maori were more literate than the Pakeha, the non native settlers. The Treaties were written in Maori, and interpreted in Maori for the people. Today, l00% of the Maori are largely, bilingual, while perhaps l0 % of the rest of the New Zealand population. The Maori remain with greater language skills than the majority of New Zealanders. Maori is considered one of two official languages of New Zealand Maori and sign language. English is an assumed language .
On Indigenous People in Mainstream Politics: I tend to think that it adds knowledge, but you get knowledge from anywhere, even from the enemy I learned how to manage at a macro level. If were talking about sovereignty and we want to run a country we have to know how to manage a country. I see that there are concessions to be won... but substantive change doesnt come through national politics. Not unless your leadership is courageous
Comparing Native Americans in Political Office with Maoris: Its challenging for Hone to think of Native representatives in state legislatures like South Dakota. Your energy is used trying to placate people who you dont like. Like rednecks in South Dakota . Id rather represent my tumultuous relations in the five reservations. Id be happier to represent them than the people of Rapid City. I see Maori people who hold office with white parties, they are basically ignored, they trot them out to do a speech or a performance, and then kick them out of the room when they make decisions. I just think we should spend more time building capacity within, rather than externalizing that .
On the importance of dedicated Indigenous seats in Parliament or Congress: If there are only four, at least you know there are four voices in the Senate which are clearly Native American. As their voice is heard, other native Americans say, yeah, thats my man. At that level its about learning the skills of macro management, rather than bullshitting yourself that youre part of government because the white boys will kick you out.
On Inspirational People: Mohammed Ali, Nelson Mandela, Huey Newton and then Maori people, Sid Jackson, Maori Marsden, my mom and my wife, Hilda.
When we were young, the heroes in terms of change for people of color, were black. And they were so far off the planet because of what they were saying, you couldnt help say that was cool. And what Mohammed Ali had going for him, he was really articulate and if anyone didnt agree he could smash them.
On the future battles: Maori politics remains an uphill battle, to gain more political power at all levels- from the grassroots to the parliament. The politics of poverty remains significant in Aotearoa as well as the US, as increasing numbers of people fall into more despairing economic situations. Hone hopes to secure a couple of mid year and Christmastime bonuses of $500 each for a family, to help through the hard times, and fight legislation pending which would take Maori shore and ocean harvesting rights.
I met Hone Harawira 28 years ago in l983, when he came to the International Indian Treaty Council at Phillip Deeres in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
We became fast friends, largely because I was his most reliable ride- taking him on a road trip for a couple thousand miles of Indian Country. Since then, hed been back a couple of times, most recently at a training session for Natives running for office, sponsored by the Wellstone Project and coordinated by Kalynn Free .
In 2011, after those decades, many years, children, grandchildren, battles and political campaigns between the two of us, he took me on a road trip through his Aotearoa. It was an honor and a pleasure.
Special to News From Indian Country March 2011
| Hone Harawirais |
His electorate is the far north of New Zealand, including his home community of Kaitaia. Of the l20 members in Parliament, some 20 are Maori, with a number of Maori appointed to various political positions in the federal government. And, in a somewhat unique political configuration, there are seven seats for which only Maori can vote in the national parliament, and of those, five seats are members of the Maori party, and two are members of the Labor Party.
In the 30 years of recent Maori activism, much has been accomplished- language use rose from around 3% to almost l00% of Maori language knowledge, at least 30% of Maoris estimated to be fluent speakers. There are over l00 language immersion schools, and some 50 tribal communities of Maoris, with various community development corporations, a huge Maori media empire (radio, print and television), and political appointments in federal agencies as well as political power as members of parliament.
There are around 700,000 Maori in New Zealand, (representing maybe one fifth of the population). Of the 66 million acres in the Country, the Maori have 3 million acres remains as Maori land, that is communally held land and then theres general ie Fee simple) title.
We did not get anything without a fight. You always have to fight to gain, Hone Harawira reminds me. Indeed, that is the case.
Harawira is a seasoned activist, one of the few members of Parliament with a long arrest record for protesting - for land rights of Maoris, environmental rights, and in support of South African Apartheid That was the freakiest experience of my life, Hone tells me, of his meeting of South African Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. In was l983, and Hone had been charged with 96 years worth of felonies including participating in a riot (2 charges), and assault with intent to create grievous bodily harm (four charges), There were ten others charged in this same case, and many others charged for protesting. It was a result of the South African Springboks coming to play Rugby at the height of the Apartheid. (See recent movie Invictus- starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman for a version of this story)
We opposed the charges but the case went for a couple of years from l98l to l983. In those two years, my defense lasted maybe 45 minutes.
The date came for the final trial in l983. Hone has an epiphany, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu has come to New Zealand to talk about apartheid at the invitation of the Anglican Church. Hone will request Desmond Tutu as an expert witness. No one thinks that is possible, but Hone is believing. It is Hones mother Titifie Harawira who is active in the Anglican Church, and she goes to speak to Bishop Tutu. So, there the l0 defendants sit in an Auckland Court house, all facing major felony charges from protesting the apartheid team. Hone has elected to defend himself. He testifies in a jury trial. Then, there is a head poking in the back of the court room, it is one of my colleagues. He nods to me, as I am sitting in the dock (the witness stand) completing my testimony." The Judge turns to Hone and asks if he has a witness to bring forward. Hone Harawira calls Bishop Desmond Tutu to the stand. With Desmond Tutus testimony the delegation of primarily Maori and Pacific Island protesters are acquitted of all charges.
It is twenty seven years later, and Hone Harawira is an uncompromising member of Parliament, a leader in the country.
*****
On Compromise: Compromise your strategies not your principles . Be bold in our positions When governments say, Maori need to be realistic. What they are really saying is no. But that shouldnt make us afraid to say what is our people want, and commit ourselves to doing our best in achieving it. If we are not successful dont let it be because we let somebody else stop us from daring to succeed.
On Representation: I dont really carry about what the rest of the constituents think, because I care about what the Maori say. Thats because there are another l00 or so Members of Parliament who can represent their interests, and they will definitely not represent the Maori interests
On Literacy: The Maori people drafted a declaration of independence, with the assistance of come British advisors in l835. Five years later, the treaty of Waitangi was signed recognizing Maori sovereignty rights to natural resources and land, and also recognizing the governance over the rest of the country by Britain. At the time of the signing of the treaty, the Maori were more literate than the Pakeha, the non native settlers. The Treaties were written in Maori, and interpreted in Maori for the people. Today, l00% of the Maori are largely, bilingual, while perhaps l0 % of the rest of the New Zealand population. The Maori remain with greater language skills than the majority of New Zealanders. Maori is considered one of two official languages of New Zealand Maori and sign language. English is an assumed language .
On Indigenous People in Mainstream Politics: I tend to think that it adds knowledge, but you get knowledge from anywhere, even from the enemy I learned how to manage at a macro level. If were talking about sovereignty and we want to run a country we have to know how to manage a country. I see that there are concessions to be won... but substantive change doesnt come through national politics. Not unless your leadership is courageous
Comparing Native Americans in Political Office with Maoris: Its challenging for Hone to think of Native representatives in state legislatures like South Dakota. Your energy is used trying to placate people who you dont like. Like rednecks in South Dakota . Id rather represent my tumultuous relations in the five reservations. Id be happier to represent them than the people of Rapid City. I see Maori people who hold office with white parties, they are basically ignored, they trot them out to do a speech or a performance, and then kick them out of the room when they make decisions. I just think we should spend more time building capacity within, rather than externalizing that .
On the importance of dedicated Indigenous seats in Parliament or Congress: If there are only four, at least you know there are four voices in the Senate which are clearly Native American. As their voice is heard, other native Americans say, yeah, thats my man. At that level its about learning the skills of macro management, rather than bullshitting yourself that youre part of government because the white boys will kick you out.
On Inspirational People: Mohammed Ali, Nelson Mandela, Huey Newton and then Maori people, Sid Jackson, Maori Marsden, my mom and my wife, Hilda.
When we were young, the heroes in terms of change for people of color, were black. And they were so far off the planet because of what they were saying, you couldnt help say that was cool. And what Mohammed Ali had going for him, he was really articulate and if anyone didnt agree he could smash them.
On the future battles: Maori politics remains an uphill battle, to gain more political power at all levels- from the grassroots to the parliament. The politics of poverty remains significant in Aotearoa as well as the US, as increasing numbers of people fall into more despairing economic situations. Hone hopes to secure a couple of mid year and Christmastime bonuses of $500 each for a family, to help through the hard times, and fight legislation pending which would take Maori shore and ocean harvesting rights.
*****
I met Hone Harawira 28 years ago in l983, when he came to the International Indian Treaty Council at Phillip Deeres in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
We became fast friends, largely because I was his most reliable ride- taking him on a road trip for a couple thousand miles of Indian Country. Since then, hed been back a couple of times, most recently at a training session for Natives running for office, sponsored by the Wellstone Project and coordinated by Kalynn Free .
In 2011, after those decades, many years, children, grandchildren, battles and political campaigns between the two of us, he took me on a road trip through his Aotearoa. It was an honor and a pleasure.