Former Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has indicated he may stand as the Te Pāti Māori candidate for the Te Tai Tokerau seat in the upcoming November election, though he maintains the final decision rests with his family.
Family Considerations and Candidacy
Speaking to 1News, the 71-year-old activist stated that his potential candidacy depends on his wife’s blessing. Harawira noted that he and his wife have been weighing the demands of the role against their home responsibilities, which include caring for mokopuna.
“If my wife says I can, well, then I’ll put my name forward. If she says I can’t, then I’m staying home with the mokos,” Harawira said. He emphasized the intensity of the commitment required, stating, “If you’re going to do this, you dedicate 100% from the time you put your hand up until the election.”
While he has not confirmed or denied his plans to seek the candidacy, Harawira affirmed his support for the party regardless of the outcome, saying, “Whoever’s the voice for Te Pāti Māori, I do whatever I can to support them.”
Party Reorganization in Te Tai Tokerau
Harawira has already been active within the electorate, working to rebuild party infrastructure. He told 1News that he has been focused on restarting party branches, noting that only one remained in the entire electorate.
“My job was to go around and restart all of the branches, get people committed to working for the candidate, to working for the party,” he explained.
A Crowded Electoral Contest
The race for Te Tai Tokerau has become increasingly complex following a series of political shifts. Sitting MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi recently announced her official split from Te Pāti Māori to establish the Te Tai Tokerau Party. This move follows months of conflict and an expulsion that the High Court ruled was unlawful.
The newly formed Te Tai Tokerau Party intends to contest the election based on a “kaupapa grounded in tino rangatiratanga, local decision-making and mana mokopuna,” according to 1News.
The contest is further crowded by several other contenders:
- Te Pāti Māori: Has confirmed it will stand a candidate in the seat.
- Labour: Contested by Willow-Jean Prime.
- Greens: Contested by Hūhana Lyndon.
Historical Context
Harawira is a prominent activist with decades of experience campaigning on land rights and Treaty issues. He previously held the Te Tai Tokerau seat from 2005 to 2014. Originally entering Parliament as a Te Pāti Māori MP, he split from the party in 2011 to form the Mana Party. He subsequently stood for the Mana Party in 2014 and 2017, though both attempts were unsuccessful.
Potential Outlook
The final lineup for the November election may shift depending on whether Harawira receives the necessary family approval to run. If he enters the race, it could alter the dynamics of an already fragmented contest between Te Pāti Māori, the new Te Tai Tokerau Party, and established candidates from Labour and the Greens.