Former Labour MP John Tamihere compares party to gang

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Labour 'like the Head Hunters' - Tamihere

3News NZ

Former Labour MP John Tamihere

Former Labour MP John Tamihere

By Patrick Gower

The Labour Party faithful have queued up to get into their party conference in Auckland this evening.

All members are welcome except one – the prodigal son, John Tamihere - who has not been allowed to return.

“It’s a bit like joining the Head Hunters,” he says, “as I'm trying to walk through, trying to get my membership, they are all there beating you – it’s a bit like a gang, a gang initiation”.

Yes, that's right, Mr Tamihere compares the Labour Party to the Head Hunters, Auckland's most feared gang. That's because while he's paid his membership fees and wants to be an MP again, his colourful past – including a Serious Fraud Office investigation – means that membership is yet to be approved by the party hierarchy.

He says he is being blocked by forces from within.

“No one wants you back if you are deemed to be a threat, so what you've got to do is water your threats down and kill them off – that's politics,” he says.

3 News tried to talk to Labour Party member Shane Te Pou about Mr Tamihere, but found the door closed. Mr Te Pou was a key figure in the Bill Liu citizenship controversy – a series of events currently under investigation by the Auditor-General. But while Mr Te Pou is allowed into the conference, Mr Tamihere isn't.

Mr Tamihere did actually back under-fire Labour leader David Shearer, but today Mr Shearer couldn't bring himself to back Mr Tamihere.

“I'm not going to give a personal view,” he says.

Mr Shearer is under huge pressure – but he believes he can beat anything, saying he will “absolutely” lead Labour into the next election.

SEE MORE: EXTENDED INTERVIEW: John Tamihere

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Comments

25/11/2012 9:22:15 a.m.

robbie wrote:

early 90s i seem to remember being in a pysch wing ,and this was when mum was alive,i recall military sevice was an occupational hazard then,and only honest were deemed prolific threats to criminal adventures of white collar development/crime/though. Im trying to become a labour partie waged member at the moment ,as im waged. If the academic age of tangata whaiora and prison faculty and forlion adventures in industrie staffing are cut loose ,and police hunt down the victims, of war and crime , does religeon culture and pyschotrophic analisis bare the top secret stamp, buried in six feet of unpaid bribes ,to funny so-called protection rakets set up by national partie immigration revealed and i say revaeled upon the bastard who makes the foreign policies in the US and China ....you should be considering with standing torture and severe wounds or not have more than an eyeful of media reports out of the Gulf or China an Cambodia , there apparently the worst cells to get locked in , so decide what good you want taje from politics here ,and i will contribute in a special way for Labour. confused as i am R. who is going to be minister for sporting development one month before world rugby cup london, in Labour caucus and what shape will he/she be in to assume dualing international rivalry ??

18/11/2012 12:20:18 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

Tamihere is an opportunist and has little to offer Labour. He could easily stand for National if the prize was big enough.

18/11/2012 8:59:30 a.m.

sharob wrote:

lamaao @lmfao i lough at you mate your so stupid and gullable they lough at you poor people like you from the middle class you prob up the elite wealthys tax shortfall and you are so brainwashed and far gone in your head they have you happy and rejoicing about it . peoples a just morons little more than cannon fodderf and dont know it . they love slip into their cacoon beleave the tooth fairy and santa are seeing all is ok for the likes of lmfao .

17/11/2012 2:11:18 a.m.

LMFAO wrote:

I voted Labour (Helen) the first time I was old enough to vote (18). I skipped the next election due to my Defence Force work commitments - thanks for nothing BTW. Since leaving the defence force, and due to becoming a student who could save/work, now I vote for National (and tax cuts). More meaningful now that I am earning a sh#tload of money due to an interest free student loan (which was paid off at my leisure), and tax cuts at the following election - For The Mother Fu@#ing win. You need someone like John Tamihere in your party for me to bother bother voting in your favour again. Your policies are way out of touch, and you guys just don't f#@king get it anymore...

16/11/2012 11:58:18 p.m.

Sam wrote:

So really this was a story about a guy who's a member of the media who wasn't allowed into a session that was in fact closed to the media and advertised as such. Also, Labour _membership_ not party hierarchy decide who are members and who are not. If he hasn't be granted membership yet it's because the grassroots ordinary folk where he wants to be a members haven't decided yet. Do your homework, 3 news. Sheesh.

16/11/2012 9:44:10 p.m.

MH wrote:

Sorry, no has beens allowed. And David Shearer WILL get my vote.

16/11/2012 8:22:45 p.m.

Markm wrote:

Phil Goff used to preface verything with "absolutely" and look where it got him

16/11/2012 6:53:23 p.m.

The Al1en wrote:

Failed politician John Tamihere in limelight seeking shock. The longer it takes Shearer to tell this devisve has been to get lost, the worse it will be for the Labour party.