John Tamihere: I slit my political throat with my own tongue

John Tamihere. Photo / Herald on Sunday

I remember the launch of this paper as I reckon I helped sell heaps of them by fronting the cover. The regretful part of being there as a politician was I did not want the attention. This might sound an oxymoron, but wait for the context.

I won two elections comprehensively. I had been appointed to Cabinet; I launched my biography which went to No 3 in the bestseller list; I appeared in opinion polls for preferred prime minister and was building a solid following in the Caucus. Everything was riding nice.

Unbeknown to me an ambush constructed in August 2004 was launched on October 14, 2004. The ambush came from behind me and from within my own camp. Rodney Hide was merely the messenger. I feel sorry for him being so used and abused. The old adage in Parliament is that the Opposition is in front of you but always beware the enemies behind.

A few weeks earlier, I had offered to write a column for the Herald on Sunday. Suddenly, when all this broke, they phoned me back to accept my offer.

An open-ended Queen's Counsel Inquiry covering 18 allegations from tax fraud to election expense rorts cleared me in December 2004 and the Serious Fraud Office cleared me in February 2005. I was then told I would not be reappointed to Cabinet and had to fight the coming election off the backbench and against a formidable co-leader of the new Maori Party. Bear in mind, on behalf of the Labour Party I helped front and shepherd through the Foreshore and Seabed legislation. When you put the above cocktail together you start saying to yourself, "Beam me up, Scotty".

I was invited to lunch by the crafty Ian Wishart. Fair dinkum, I consumed half a glass of merlot and thought I was discussing the type of article he might care to write. Undoubtedly I dissed about half of my Caucus - the feminists and the gays. I still hold to these views and only regret the way in which Wishart framed what I said.

The Prime Minister's only question to me after this article hit the public was: "How much did you drink?"

When I replied, "Half a glass of merlot," she responded, annoyed: "You mean I can't even say you were pissed?"

Having said this I guess you could say I slit my own political throat with my own tongue.

TV3 won awards for their reporting on me, and this paper sold huge amounts off me. I am still waiting for the Christmas cards.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY