Hone Harawira defends his use of the 'N-word'

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Harawira defends his use of the 'N-word'

3News NZ

Hone Harawira (file)

Hone Harawira (file)

By Tova O’Brien

Hone Harawira has come out swinging in his defence of the controversial “N-word” to describe Maori MPs, saying his language is a reflection of New Zealand’s Parliament.

“If people want me to stop using language from Alabama in the 1950s, then maybe they should ask John Key to stop treating his Maori MPs like he's the plantation owner,” he says.

The language he is talking about was posted on Facebook last night, with Mr Harawira suggesting Prime Minister John Key is the real leader of the Maori Party.

He says on Facebook, "Key ... Can tell his little house n****rs what to do, but ... The rest of us don't give a shit for him or his opinions!”

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says his choice of language is insulting.

“I've never been a house n****r and I don't take kindly to being called one,” she says.

And fair enough too - the term was made popular by Mr Harawira's hero Malcolm X, and originally referred to black slaves beholden to their masters.

Ms Turia says this is classic Harawira - behaving like he has got more sway he actually does.

“I don't think the Government is about to listen to Hone Harawira,” she says.  “I have not heard him ask for a meeting with us or with the Prime Minister so he can go out there and talk to the wind like he does.”

Mr Harawira is playing his comments down today, saying he wasn't directing the word at anyone or any party.

And just this afternoon the comments disappeared from Facebook – Mr Harawira says it was not him who removed them, and he has no idea where they went.

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Comments

13/09/2012 11:56:27 a.m.

pete wrote:

1 law for one race ?,i thought it was supposed to be 1 law applied to all races.

7/09/2012 11:04:07 p.m.

Julius Apper-Guard wrote:

OK , So we can all use this word now. But only referring to Harawiras and their ilk, OK?

7/09/2012 9:42:46 p.m.

Mal wrote:

Go hard Hone. At least you told the truth. Not like someone else I know who lies the minute his mouth opens. Way to go.

7/09/2012 7:13:17 p.m.

warren pahl wrote:

i would say if joe blogs had called the same name to any member of the mana party they would be complaining to the race relations concilator

7/09/2012 10:10:26 a.m.

N hits the mark wrote:

Nothing wrong with the N word. It conveys a very clear meaning. Hone got his message across loud and clear. Good on him.

7/09/2012 9:08:10 a.m.

Rob wrote:

If any other politician or 'public figure' were to use the N word they would have to stand down. Other people have had to for lesser comments.

7/09/2012 7:30:27 a.m.

susan wrote:

The Hone Harawira story has eclipsed the real news of the high unemployment figures that have just been released. I would rather Hone shouted from the roof tops that his people want jobs to put food on the table .

7/09/2012 3:55:44 a.m.

Keshia Cleverly wrote:

I am a desendant of Tainui Waka that I am proud of and hope to inspire my own children by example. My point is Hone Harawira should not be consumed by facebook viewers, he is speaking in vain and you really need to read between the lines that will reveal he is what he calls his better halves in the Maori Party. They are true "rangatira" better described as leaders or chiefs achieving beneficial structures implemented by their work. I encourage you yo look into your community and use networks such as Whanau Ora, an housing nz putting into place Hon.Tariana Turia's housing maori strategy, Maori tertiary education to name a few. One thing is obvious Hon Harawira needs to humble himself, no publicity is better than bad in his case.

6/09/2012 11:41:48 p.m.

gary wrote:

Oh dear hone is running his mouth off again. Our most public racist even tried to back down on his little rant, he's just the village idiot. Come next election both management and Maori party will be gone so we don't have to put up with this rubbish for too much longer thankfully of course JK had his mates ready to invest in our best performing and sole surviving assets, that's why they are being sold. Would dearly love to see some names when the majority of shares are sold and JK's past involvement with those individuals.

6/09/2012 10:43:26 p.m.

Richard wrote:

Is it possible for Hone Harawira to be charged with racial discrimination?? It is time he was hit hard, one day he is going to step over the line, and somebody will take to him with very bad intentions.