GUEST BLOG: Hone Harawira – Dear Matt King – Front up or shut up

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Matt King, National MP for Northland, has been slagging off the Checkpoints in the Tai Tokerau, saying he’s had heaps of complaints, and that the Checkpoints are illegal.

So I challenged him to spend a day with me tomorrow at Checkpoint Kaikohe, and see for himself the support that the Checkpoints have.

And as for their legality, the Checkpoints enjoy widespread support from local police, and from iwi.

So let’s see if you’ve got what it takes tomorrow Matt. I’ll be there. Will you?

Hone Harawira is the Leader of the MANA Movement

36 COMMENTS

  1. If they enjoy widespread support from the Police, then that makes it worse.
    These people are meant to be home in isolation, not behaving like some paramilitary force.
    Imagine the outcry if asians did this?

    • Absolute BS jays-mate. The need for real people who give a damn and are ready to stand up, speak out and be there to protect the vulnerable has never been as great is it is now.

      (And you can shovel your racist jibes)

      • 100% Plus Kheala, If Jays is unhappy that whanau are assisting the other essential workers to keep their region free of Covid-19 – that’s not our problem. We are thankful that some do care and also risk their own lives to keep us safe. I say to Jays – “Go out and help them. You will be welcome.”

    • Or any other groups you might care to think of.
      What are the checks and balances, the guidelines, the avenues for redress?
      This is a really, really bad idea. It sets such a dangerous precedent.
      How it can possibly be OK for a citizen to impede the free travel of another without explicit judicial authority is beyond me.
      Look, I do get the intention. But this is not the answer.

      • Yup. But too many of the imbeciles here dont get it.
        If Hone and his bunch of mates can do this, then what else can they (or anyone else) get away with.
        This is how democracy dies. When the sanctimonious insist on suspending peoples rights for their own good (of course).
        In this case we have a bunch of sanctimonious twats insisting that peoples rights to go about their business unimpeded by Hones bovver boys should be suspended.
        Unsurprising when far too many people here are communist rather than social Democrats.

      • Why should people be allowed to disobey the govts explicit instructions in a National Emergency to stay at home in the neighbouhood where they live, and in doing that carry a killer disease into other people’s communities. They are breaking the law as it exists right now. Reckless travel on all roads and highways is forbidden.

  2. It is now common knowledge that the right have been beating this story up. Talk of Gang members threatening people have turned out to have no substance. I think the Police realised quite early on , that to prosecute these people for trying to protect their communities would be a mistake and would mean loss of support and authority. New Zealand is taking a cooperative approach to lock down , not a CCP approach. Listening to Matt King you would think White people are coming across armed revolutionaries. By working with them they are providing a service that adds to the spirit of the community that we are all in this together. Not just blindly following instructions, and if some old white people get offended by this, I think it says more about them than the so called ‘para military’ goon squads. National now desperate for some cut through after each complaint is shot down by reality. I say Kia kaha to the people of the North for looking out for each other.

    • New Zealand is taking a cooperative approach to lock down , not a CCP approach.

      “not a CCP approach.” Exactly right.

      Here’s a link to Hone’s earlier post on this: Locking Down the Far North

      He wrote:
      Is Coronavirus in Kaitaia?
      Backpackers and tourists are rolling into Pak ‘n Save
      WITHOUT protective face masks, &
      WITHOUT self-isolating for 24 days.

      NOTHING is being done to stop them coming into our world without protection, so we will be.

      – We are planning to lockdown the Far North.
      – We will contact the police and local authorities to ensure this is managed properly.
      – We will refer locals returning home to medical authorities for advice and isolation.
      – We will allow the flow of food and health items.
      – We will turn ALL tourists away.
      – If you’re not from here, turn back
      Rest at link.

  3. “And as for their legality, the Checkpoints enjoy widespread support from local police, and from iwi.”

    hah? who knew iwi had ANY legal authority to set up check points! Perhaps Hone you would like to test that one in court?

    Not surprised the local Cops turn the other cheek to this vigilante crap. You read the racist garbage in the media all the time that plays along with the separatism narrative. Using sayings of like “our people”…and such. Imagine Pakeha saying “our people” in a sentence…..You can imagine the backlash…

  4. I think King may have been referring to consents needed to block a public road. Are these roads governed by the Local Government Act or the Transport Act bylaws? Both require authorisation and certification to be granted, management by qualified personnel and public notification. The Transport Minister can authorize immediate and ongoing closures (non emergency) without consent I think.

  5. I saw the other day King saying he had ‘heaps of complaints.’ I wondered if there were too many to count so he didn’t say he’d had 4,803. Or that it was 3 and to him 3 was heaps but he didn’t say 3 because it would sound pathetic.

    He certainly didn’t say that he’d had 79 from Far North locals. He used to be a cop, you know, where the details are important. And honesty.

    Maybe when Matt King comes out with the detail he can be really specific, do a breakdown, a la Covid-19 stats.

    I’ll help him with a plain English format:

    Complaints from the Far North:
    “Number of complaints ………
    Number from rabid National supporters in that lot ….
    Number who only made a complaint for reasons of adding to stats and making it look like a big issue …
    Number who made a complaint for reasons of adding to stats but are secretly pleased because it adds to their protection ….
    Number who hate Hone Harawira and are mainly complaining because of that …
    Number who hate Maori and are mainly complaining because of that …
    ——————-
    Then of course there should be another set about those who are not in the northern part of Tai Tokerau.

    I accept that Matt King will be busy at the checkpoint today but after he’s responded to that challenge he can respond to this one. I’m sure he’ll see it.

  6. I’m a big fat boomer who will give up anything to protect their own life, and I approve of what that mari is doing.

  7. Its funny how the red necks and hill billies just focus on Hone up north, whereas there are half a dozen other regions that are doing the exact same thing!
    Bias, red-neckery and bigotry with a smattering of racism is alive and well in pakeha Nu Zilind.

  8. Apparently we are in lock down so people from other areas should not be travelling, maybe Matt King has too much time on his hands?

    • National is always keen to sell the illusion they “care”….but what they really care about at this time is “scoring hits”….regardless if their hits are all bullshit. Matt King pretending he’s relevant …just like Syman Bwidges.

      I think Hone fucked up with his recent trip to Auckland. His actions screamed of arrogant entitlement….but he’s got it right here. Inviting King to assist is a smart move. King could live 17 lifetimes and he wouldn’t ever take up the invitation. He ends up looking like a shitheel which is rather appropriate.

      Chur.

  9. Yes. Good on Hone for taking the safety of his community seriously. People shouldnt be travelling so inquiries as to their business are perfectly legitimate.

  10. I am sitting in my taxi waiting for my next job on a main street in new plymouth and between 10 to 20 cars are driving past each minute. We are still in level 4. If I was to partially block the road and stop all cars and ask them the nature of their business how would that go down. It is inexcusable for the police to allow vigilantes to set up road blocks on state highways. And to label anyonè who criticizes this abhorrent practice a fascist is just lazy intellectual bullshit.

    • Hitchcock
      What’s the mystery about this action? It’s plain that they are trying to control their own area from young ones bumming around in their cars for something to do, and perhaps slow down some drug deliveries and other non-essential travelling.

      I hope you are cleaning your door handles while you wait for your fares. If people drove less and used you more it would make better sense and you wouldn’t have time to sit and stew.

      • Greywarbler – “…It’s plain that they are trying to control their own area from young ones bumming around in their cars for something to do” could be; this what locals say is happening in Napier. Time was Maori wardens would step in,and that was OK.

        Vigilantism can go terribly wrong; these are the sort of situations where the NZDF could play a part- I thought that they would; this would – maybe- stop politicians stirring away like village mischief makers.

        Matt King is/was a climate change denier, so he may not have the clearest head in Northland, but if he thinks that the checkpoints are illegal, then the police are the people to go to, not the media – the media are for publicity – it’s looking a bit convoluted, and no-body needs that.

  11. If some dickheads are going to break Level Four, then people have a moral incentive to try and protect their communities.

    As a Te Tai Tokerau resident, my Pākehā family fully supports Iwi led checkpoints. Descendants of Māori families know the devastating effect of the 1918 flu on many small settlements. There is some research that people that have been invaded, such as Māori were during colonisation, are hardwired to do act on perceived external threats.

    Matt King did not have the guts to turn up to Hone’s invitation by the way.

    • Mr Sennitt. That is why we purchase big expensive frigates to embargo foreign vessels and fight criminal syndicates abroad less all the messy domestic intrusions on kiwi rights.

    • When the lockdown’s over get a map and head north. Be polite and those in the vehicles you stop at your checkpoint will be polite back appreciating the good work you’re doing.

      Alternatively go anywhere in the country and do the same if you’re so concerned. Try Remuera Road. That area has a record. If you’ve got intel about up north (or anywhere for that matter because drugs are all over the country) but don’t want to get your hands dirty, the police number is in the phone book.

  12. A lot of these checkpoints are around the east coast highway, not just up north. The east coast is remote country with just a few locals and many camper vans going round the cape. Not many Police around there to check on the traffic, see what there up to. Same up north. These are maori communities and they are remote. Who’s gonna look out for them? F….. no one. Good on them I say.

    • The point about the East cape is the lack of medical professionals for hundreds of Ks of slow winding road, and I think they came to an arrangement with the police. A bit the same up north, but it’s a worrying president. The police should do it themselves if it needs be done. Police appointing some local assistance would seem reasonable.
      It seems like a strange challenge to someone condemning the checkpoints to come and join in . Violating all the rules he was complaining about being broken.
      D J S

  13. Some of us worry about a president David Stone, President Trump.

    Meanwhile back in A/NZ, Hone is doing a good job protecting locals from those who do what they like regardless of the danger to others. All the chaff re legality is an excuse to vent your outrage on uppity Maori. At the basis of laws, democracy etc is the aim to ensure human rights are safeguarded. In this case it is the survival of human life. You dullards need to see the fundamentals clearly and thank Hone, not condemn him.

    • Janio wrote: At the basis of laws, democracy etc is the aim to ensure human rights are safeguarded. In this case it is the survival of human life.

      That is so clear, so straightforward, so basic.

      You dullards need to see the fundamentals clearly and thank Hone, not condemn him.

  14. Maybe one day in the future, we will be free to try any microbe we like, have freedom of thought, and be free. If I wanna get the virus why shouldn’t I be able to try it? I might like it.

    • There’s a risk that you could infect others so for there safety you’d have to be separated from the rest of humanity.

  15. Hone’s probably on the right track. Unfortunately, because he’s also go to be a strong sense of entitlement he’s got zero credibility. It’s not ok to go for a tour under lockdown.

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