We have Mana Party leader Hone Harawira live with us now.
Tena koe, Hone.
To start, obviously the news of the week is
the earthquake in the South Island.
Northland did not receive a warning for a tsunami.
What are your thoughts?
First off condolences to families
who have lost loved ones to the earthquake.
Secondly, I'd like to acknowledget Ngati Kuri and Takahanga Marae,
who fed the stranded tourists
as well as locals whose houses were damaged.
So we must thank them for their level of hospitality
and the lengths they went to
to take care of people with how we do things on marae.
In the north we are okay.
It is only right we send love and support to those
who have been affected at this time.
To America now, Standing Rock.
It is a kaupapa that has been growing and watched by the world.
There are many who support the indigenous people over there,
Maori included.
What are your thoughts - where do you stand?
It is a pain that indigenous peoples all over can relate to.
So I am happy that there are Maori who are supporting
the protest at Standing Rock.
To look after the water for us all.
Furthermore we must send support to our relatives
who have gone there and send our love with them.
So that they can see that we
as indigenous people are one and united.
But we as Maori must not forget that there is
a battle happening back here at home.
For example, here in Auckland we are fighting for Ihumatao.
It is not Standing Rock but rather Otuataua Stonefields
that the Government wants to take to build houses on.
Not houses for the bereaved or the poor,
but houses for wealthy people.
So go to Dakota and come back,
and continue to support the struggle.
In your opinion, as there are many Maori supporting Standing Rock,
there should also be many Maori supporting Ihumatao?
Yes, that is the hope.
Still go to Standing Rock if it is your wish to do so.
Go there and bring back the learnings
from over there to support our kaupapa back home.
We have vision of a protest at a conference.
It is a protest at the annual
New Zealand Defence Industry Association Forum.
According to officials it is not a meeting to discuss fire arms
and weapons.
We could also see the flag of the Mana party.
What are your thoughts on this meeting?
This is not a defence conference.
The company that called this meeting is Lockheed Mutt
and their main aim is to create and sell guns to kill people.
That's all there is to it.
Good on those people who were there today as a voice
to stop the wars of the world as well as the creation of weapons
to kill people.
Hone Harawira, thank you for your time.