Hone Harawira

From the frontline of protests to the corridors of Parliament, former Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira reflects on a lifetime of service to Māori.

Watch the video version of the episode here

*The views expressed in this interview are the honestly held opinion of Hone Harawera

From the frontline of protests to the corridors of Parliament - Former Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira reflects on a lifetime of service to Māori.

"Not for one second" - Hone Harawira has no regrets over leaving the Māori Party and using the term "white motherf*****" as he reflects on his career in politics to Mantangireia presenter Maiki Sherman.

Hone Harawira is a straight shooter - he calls it like he sees it.

It's a roughshod approach that's worked for him and for which he makes no apology.

From frontline protests across the country to the leather-lined seats of the debating chamber at Parliament, Hone Harawira has been an unwavering voice for change.

"We were really bulletproof... we could not be told we were wrong."

As a young man he led several protests including against the Springbok Tour with the Patu Squad.

"We got offside with a lot of people including a lot of our own people...but in those days there was a demand for change.

"We were fighting apartheid but also using it as an opportunity to strike a blow against racism here in this country and that's what it was for a lot of us. Our apartheid, our racism was right here at home," he said.

Domestic protest against the Labour government in 2004 would lead Hone Harawira on a pathway to Parliament.

The Foreshore and Seabed debate gave birth to the Māori Party and Mr Harawira would win the Te Tai Tokerau electorate seat at the following general election.

So, how was protest any different to politics? And what of the very public split from the Māori Party?

"It was activism that was driving my career as an MP - my love for kaupapa Māori and for my colleagues - but I remained an activist," he said.

He remembers the Māori Party's first years in parliament fondly.

"They were great years, they were absolutely great years."

A confidence and supply deal with National at the next election would spell an end to that.

"The parting of the ways came because I felt that we were becoming a little too close to the National Party," he said…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details