Kiwis dislike looking in mirror - Harawira

Hone Harawira says white New Zealanders reacted badly to his controversial "white mother....ers" remark because they don't like "looking at themselves in the mirror".

In a wide-ranging speech at the Parihaka International Peace Festival in Taranaki at the weekend, the maverick Maori Party MP admitted he was trying to mind his language but said the sentiment remained and the "rape of Maori lands" continued.

"Last year I made the statement that white so-and-sos have been raping our lands and ripping us off and everyone hated me. All I was doing was holding up a mirror to New Zealand."

Earlier comments accusing other countries of racism had received a totally different response, he said.

"A few years ago I said on TV that John Howard was a racist bastard and everyone – old, young, rich and poor – was congratulating me."

Mr Harawira, who is on an extended summer break from Parliament after making a public apology for his inflammatory email, then said the rape of Maori lands was not an issue confined to the past.

"The Foreshore and Seabed Act sits on our shoulders today. Here at Parihaka, January 9, 2010, we sit under the biggest land grab.

"There's a move to repeal that act, but it hasn't been repealed yet."

However, the foreshore and seabed solution was simple, the MP for Te Tai Tokerau said. "First, put all the foreshore and seabed in Maori title. That will take away the angst, anxiety and anger that has been with Maori forever. Second, make it unalienable so it's never able to be sold."

Guaranteed access for all Kiwis would be the final step and was something most Maori had no problem with, he said.

Mr Harawira also hit out at Maori iwi leadership, saying many were now more focused on corporate activity and profit than caring for their people. "Great things are happening in corporate development but what about social work? Our people are starving, our children can't read, they can't write or count.

"I tell the kids I've been to court on 35 charges and I'm now in Parliament. Any one of those kids could be prime minister."

- © Fairfax NZ News