Māori activist and former MP
Hone Harawira has criticised a recent Te Pāti Māori
candidate for confronting Cabinet Minister Casey Costello at
a food court on Tuesday evening.
Pere Huriwai-Seger,
who ran on Te Pāti Māori’s list in 2023, sat down –
uninvited – across the table from New Zealand First MP Casey
Costello at a Wellsford food court.
He told RNZ he had
earlier talked to Costello in the corridor, where the
minister asked that he “move on”, but instead he approached
her table and continued, including saying to Costello, “of
course you’re gonna get it”.
The encounter comes in
the same month Dot Jones, wife of Cabinet Minister Shane
Jones, was allegedly
assaulted at Auckland airport.
A spotlight is on
MPs’ public safety with the Justice
Minister and Speaker looking into how to better protect
parliamentarians, and a new report showing increased
harassment of female politicians.
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When asked
whether his actions were appropriate in that wider political
context, Huriwai-Seger pointed to the “bullying” that is
“allowed” to go on in the House.
A spokesperson for
Costello told RNZ she did not want to comment on the
incident.
In an Instagram post Huriwai-Seger explained
how the encounter played out: “I said that we see through
their politics of division and distraction, like focusing on
what words people use while avoiding the real
issues”.
Huriwai-Seger said Costello told him to “move
on” but instead he sat down at her table and told her she
could not expect to “drive all this division and harm in our
communities and then just come in here like
nothing”.
“I said, ‘of course you’re gonna get
it’.”
He claimed the remark prompted Costello to stand
and ask whether he was threatening her.
“She raised
her voice and tried her best to intimidate me. I remained
seated and said, ‘you’re gonna get my words’. I said, you’re
a politician paid for by the public, and should expect to be
questioned for the harm you’re causing.”
Former Māori
Party and Mana MP Hone Harawira has come to Costello’s
defence – criticising Huriwai-Seger in a Facebook comment,
saying he stepped over the line.
“I’m not the biggest
fan of Casey Costello but I don’t like you pushing youself
into a woman’s space and I don’t like you telling her she’s
‘gonna get it’,” Harawira said.
“Pat youself on the
back if you think that makes you a big man, but don’t try
that on me or my wife,” Harawira wrote.
When RNZ
contacted Harawira on Thursday he said he had nothing
further to add.
A police spokesperson confirmed to RNZ
that police were notified a complainant was “accosted by a
member of the public” at a Wellsford food
court.
“There were no reports of any threats or
violence,” the spokesperson said.
“The complainant
left the immediate area and was spoken to on the phone a
short time later by Police staff.
“Police were advised
no further assistance was required. No offending has been
identified and no further action is required by
Police.”
Huriwai-Seger has shared Harawira’s criticism
of him on his social media, saying he appreciated the
feedback and he believes Costello took his comments the
wrong way.
“I did this because I felt honour bound to
speak up.
“Regarding pushing into her space. I don’t
believe I crossed the line but I’m open to hearing
otherwise. I respect the kōrero. I also respect our rights
to protest. That’s where I’m at.”
When asked by RNZ if
it was appropriate to engage with Costello while she was
trying to have dinner, Huriwai-Seger said “we all should be
taking any opportunity to voice our concerns”.
“They
should expect backlash from the public, and I don’t think we
should be letting them off the hook just because they’re
trying to have dinner.”
He also confirmed he was a Te
Pāti Māori candidate in the past, but was not currently a
member.
“There’s been no communication between between
me and Te Pāti Māori in terms of standing as a
candidate.”
Te Pāti Māori declined RNZ’s request for
comment.
The headline of this story has been
updated to reflect Huriwai-Seger was a former
candidate
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