'King of Huntly' jibe has backers

Ngapuhi elder David Rankin. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Ngapuhi's David Rankin is a messenger many people would not mind shooting after the clanger of an insult he directed at King Tuheitia last week.

But for others, who support his sentiment if not his methods, he's fearless, a person who just says what many in his iwi believe.

Mr Rankin dropped a bombshell when he sent a press release to just about everyone explaining his reasons for taking out a Waitangi Tribunal claim asking that the Government stop referring to Tuheitia as the "Maori King".

The generic "Maori King" term "usurped" the mana of his Matarahurahu hapu that is guaranteed under the Treaty, Mr Rankin argued.

"As far as the Government is concerned, they have no right to use the term 'Maori King'. Tuheitia could be called the 'King of Huntly' perhaps. I could live with that."

Mr Rankin is one of the most effective communicators in Maoridom. What he says gets picked up by news websites, newspapers and television shows.

Political commentator Willie Jackson says he is mates with Mr Rankin but he gets sick of his "negativity".

"In terms of the Maori King, he's not wrong.

"A number of us have those views but there's a way to put that with respect, so that you're not trampling on the family and the tupuna [ancestors] of Tuheitia. The sad part of it is, there's always some elements of truth to what he says - but there's no responsibility in terms of how he translates his message."

Mr Jackson said it also rankled that some media failed to do checks and called Mr Rankin a Maori academic - he is a former plumbing lecturer at Unitec - or a Ngapuhi kaumatua, when he's only 49.

"He's not a Ngapuhi elder; he's not even 50, for goodness sake. What is David the CEO of? Who does he lead?"

Ngapuhi's Sonny Tau believes there's room for Mr Rankin as a commentator. He said Mr Rankin was descended from a rangatira (chiefly) line and represented his hapu. Just because he was not tied to any corporate Ngapuhi entity didn't mean he couldn't have his say.

"Let's not pussyfoot around. Ngapuhi has never been part of the Kingitanga. I don't think what he said was wrong. It was the way he said it.

"I sit back and giggle to myself sometimes - he's got balls the size of moa eggs."

For his part, Mr Rankin says he isn't going to change his "shock and awe" method.

"I realise that the media is our new marae. There are 126,000 Ngapuhi. If I was to call a meeting at my marae there'd be 50 people.

"People say Ngapuhi are wild but in reality we want everyone else to put their point of view across. This has started debate.

"Who is critiquing Maori society today? Nobody. You have to have debate otherwise you may as well be Pakehas."

OTHER RANKIN RANTS

1. Rosina Hauiti wanted the Waitangi Tribunal to accept a claim that her Tongan overstayer husband was a taonga so should be allowed to stay in New Zealand.

Rankin said: "We have laws covering immigration in this country and so Ms Hauiti should work through those and not try to hijack the process for her love-life.

"The next thing we know we'll be calling Ahmed Zaoui a taonga."

2. Rankin called the hikoi protesting the Marine and Coastal Areas Bill an "embarrassment" after low numbers marched.

"To most sensible people, this would be a good reason to call the whole thing off but these protesters are not normal and they are bringing shame to Maori."

3. Rankin called out Human Rights Commission worker Marama Davidson after she hurled the curse word "pokokohua" at him in cyberspace.

He said: "If you're promoting yourself as part of the Human Rights Commission you do not say to a Maori 'go boil your head'.

"She's been going at me for six months, every time I open my mouth. Sometimes, these arseholes need to know, you open your mouth on Facebook and I'm going to punch you out."