Maori activist wins party selection

One of Maoridom's toughest activists could be heading for Parliament after winning Maori Party selection last night.

Last year Hone Harawira was elected to Waitangi's Te Tii Marae just in time to give the Prime Minister's delegation "the bash" on Waitangi Day; this year his selection is just in time to again make Helen Clark's life miserable.

The son of Miss Clark's nemesis Titewhai Harawira, the burly activist won selection as Te Tai Tokerau candidate with an "overwhelming majority" last night.

His selection battle with Auckland lawyer Alexis Nathan had been dogged by intimidation accusations, but now the battle is with Labour MP Dover Samuels.

"I'm telling Dover to polish up his fishing line and get his boat ready, because he won't have a job in Wellington," Mr Harawira said. "Labour's time has come."

Two Marae-Digipolls last year identified Mr Samuels, a former Cabinet minister, as in grave danger of being toppled by the Maori Party.

Mr Harawira has been known for his activism, most recently in telling the Prime Minister he was glad she and her party had "got the bash" as her government had stabbed Maori in the back.

But he also manages a successful iwi radio network, and took on mana in his leadership of the foreshore hikoi.

Electorate co-chair Di Grennell said 650 party members had voted at four hui in the past week to select Mr Harawira. Despite the criticisms of the process, she said she had taken advice and was satisfied with the integrity of the result.

Party co-leader Tariana Turia, in Kaikohe for the final hui yesterday, welcomed Mr Harawira's selection.

"This is not someone who has any love for the trappings of power. I've always seen Hone as someone who has an enormous love of the people," she said.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY