Hone Harawira wasn't invited by John Key
but he's going anyway
and Parliament's still paying for it.
The Mana Party leader
is currently jetting his way to South Africa
for the funeral of Nelson Mandela
and plans to speak his mind while there.
And that could mean upstaging the official delegation.
Tina Wickliffe has more.
Hone Harawira may have been snubbed by John Key.
But he's not fussed,
this morning Parliamentary Services accepted his request
to fly to South Africa.
So his family can feel the love
of his people in NZ,
the indigenous and coloured people just like him.
Because Harawira is going on his own steam as party leader,
he isn't bound by conventions.
Unlike the delegation selected by John Key,
all of whom are male,
with Pita Sharples the only Maori.
He's John Key's Maori representative
so he should go on behalf of the government.
- But he said he was also there during the protests.
Well good on him for sharing his thoughts.
Before departing Sharples said
he too was involved in anti-apartheid demonstrations
but Harawira believes
Sharples' memory may not be serving him properly.
I know the people who attended the rallies,
those that fought, I know them all,
Pita must've been somewhere else at the time.
Tomorrow the government delegation
will attend the memorial service for Mandela in Johannesburg
and then they'll return.
But Hone Harawira says
he'll be going all the way to Mandela's home village of Qunu
where he will eventually be buried.
That's my plan.
Why go for one day?
If you go all that way to pay your respects
you might as well stay till the end.
No doubt we'll be hearing more about his travels here at home.
Tina Wickliffe, Te Karere.
Dignitaries from around the world
and representatives of anti-apartheid movements
are flocking to Qunu for his funeral.
Prime Minister John Key, however,
won't be alluded to his own stance on apartheid
as he heads to South Africa with a delegation some insist
reeks of political patronage.
Peata Melbourne reports.
Madiba's funeral is set to be
the biggest congregation of world leaders in recent history.
But John Key's choice of delegates to represent NZ
is attracting a lot of criticism.
Why didn't he take someone of coloured skin
like Lomu?
Or someone like Richards?
A representative from the Anglican Church?
The opposition party are proud of their own record
in standing against apartheid.
Those not so lucky to be chosen still grateful for what they have.
Lots of potential candidates
were eager to go to join the other 70 confirmed leaders
from around the world.
But the PM has chosen former PM Jim Bolger and Sir Don McKinnon,
both part of Muldoon's party who fought for the SA tour.
David Cunliffe and Pita Sharples joins them.
Though there is no representative
from those who protested in the 80s present,
and despite Pita Sharples saying he will be a face for them,
Hone Harawira won't be left behind.
He'll be going on his own steam as per usual.
Within the next three days the PMs delegation
will pay their respects to Mandela in Pretoria.
Peata Melbourne, Te Karere.