The Speaker is told Karl Mokaraka, from Vision NZ, to leave the House after he stood and interjected. Video / Parliament TV
A former political candidate has been removed from Parliament by security after interjecting during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s official apology to the survivors of abuse in state care.
Karl Mokaraka, former candidate for Destiny Church’s Vision NZ party, yelled at Luxon to “make New Zealand great” as others in the gallery and members in the chamber told him to leave.
At least four security guards were required to initially pull him away from the gallery guard rail from where he was yelling at the Prime Minister. As they pulled him towards a door, he eventually let up any resistance and walked out.
As he was being removed by security, Mokaraka called on Te Pāti Māori to “end the division”. Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer soon stood up and told him to get out in te reo and Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee described it as an “unacceptable disruption”.
Mokaraka was allowed back into Parliament’s buildings to watch the apology on one of the television screens soon after he was escorted out, but was not allowed back into the public gallery.
Today’s antics are not the first time Mokaraka has attempted to upstage the PM, previously hitting headlines last year when he gatecrashed a press conference in Auckland held by Luxon and Simeon Brown.
“I do not normally heckle people but I do it because I want the politicians to know what whānau who can’t speak for themselves are feeling and going through,” he said.
“I do it because I am brave enough and have the courage to stand and speak. It’s probably been hibernating in me and it just comes out.”
‘It was horrific, it was heartbreaking’
Luxon began his speech by welcoming survivors in the public gallery and those watching from afar to a “significant, sorrowful but important day” in New Zealand’s history.
Describing himself as a “representative of not only this Government but all of the governments”, Luxon offered a “formal and unreserved apology for the abuse” suffered in state care, churches and other faith-based institutions.
“It was horrific. It was heartbreaking. It was wrong. And it should never have happened,” he said.
“For many of you, it changed the course of your life, and for that, the Government must take responsibility.”
He referenced the Abuse in State Care Royal Commission of Inquiry as the largest and most complex of its kind, hearing from more than 2400 people who had suffered at the hands of the state.
“Places where you should have been safe and treated with respect, dignity and compassion. But instead, you were subjected to horrific abuse and neglect and in some cases torture.
“You knew the truth because you lived it, and you have waited and waited for people to start listening to you.Now New Zealand has listened,” Luxon told survivors.
“Words do matter and I say these words with sincerity: I have read your stories, and I believe you.”
Blind children were denied access to books in braille and deaf children were punished for using sign language, Luxon said.
“To all of you, I am sorry. I acknowledge the abuse had a devastating impact on not only you but also the people closest to you.”
Luxon announced a $2 million fund that would help organisations currently providing support to survivors and revealed a National Remembrance Day would be held on November 12 next year to mark the one-year anniversary of the apology.
“This will provide us with an opportunity to stop and reflect on what you endured and ensure we are doing all we can to prevent future abuse.”
He also committed to work removing street names, public amenities, and public honours that highlighted “proven perpetrators”, a move welcomed in hushed tones by some in the gallery.
Luxon finished his speech by saying he hoped the apology helped abuse survivors in their healing.
The convoy of demonstrators protesting Government policies affecting Māori has arrived in New Zealand’s largest city and “significant delays” are expected in Auckland today.
