Ae Marika! A column published in the Northland Age By Hone Harawira MP for Tai Tokerau 02 November 2010

To comment on this column please go to my website www.hone.co.nz

My co-leaders took me off the Select Committee Hearings on the Marine and Coastal Areas Bill because they thought I "might be biased", a decision I was gutted with even though I tried to put a brave face on it all. The irony of that decision of course is that when Labour first stole the Foreshore and Seabed, the whole world knew what Tariana's view was, and yet she was allowed to go on the Select Committee.

Well, the hearings haven't even started yet, but it looks like they may have to start backtracking a bit with a number of the iwi leaders and other influential voices from Maoridom, joining me in opposing the bill.

Te Rarawa and Ngati Kahu were the first out of the blocks in opposing the bill on the very day it was tabled in the house - a point I am really proud of actually.

But the real kick in the pants came at the weekend at our Party Conference down in Kahungunu, home territory of Dr Pita Sharples, where Kahungunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana publicly called on the Party to withdraw its support for the bill as well. Ngahiwi told the conference that "If you have been made to swallow a rat then say so. Tell the people, because the perception is that you have sold out."

By voting for it, our caucus is facing the grim reality that we may get stranded out in left field supporting a bill that National wants, but Maoridom doesn't.

I'm glad I opposed it right from the start, and I did so based on the reasons we marched in the first place - kia whakahokia mai te mana o te takutaimoana ki te maori - and on the party's very own principles of mana whenua and rangatiratanga.

And as the support for the bill starts to unravel I am at peace with the stand I took to defend our right to Maori title, and to reject the tests designed to keep us from getting our foreshore and seabed back.

This bugger ain't over yet - not by a long shot ...

I am having to send this before our party conference has ended, so I can't give you all the scoops, but one thing I do know is that we've got a new president.

Ko Tawhiuau te maunga, ko Rangitaiki te iwi, ko Tangiharuru te tupuna, ko Ngati Manawa te iwi, ko Pem Bird te tangata.

Pem's from Murupara, he's the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o Tawhiuau, and he's been heavily involved in the party at all levels since 2004. And in 2009, when the party leadership was calling for me to be dumped from the party, Pem stepped up to the plate to mediate a resolution which helped reduce the tension and clear the path for my restoration to the ranks of the caucus.

So I know that Pem will be an able president.

I don't mind admitting though that I actually supported the other candidate, Mereana Pitman, because she is a woman of strength, a woman of calibre, a woman of kaupapa, and a woman who I have worked with for years. She didn't help her case by announcing that one of the reasons she was seeking the presidency was to support me, but her speech was warm, humorous, open and strong.

One thing about being in the Maori Party mate ... never a dull moment!!!

And one thing about being the Maori Party MP for Tai Tokerau ... go hard or go home!!!

Ends

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