Royal Commission of Inquiry

Ivan from Linwood

Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry begins hearing Māori experiences and is being held at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei marae.
It is being hosted by Ngāti Whātua at Ōrākei marae, where a powhiri rang out this morning to welcome the survivors, and to offer protection and support ahead of two weeks of painful testimony. The long-running Royal Commission has so far heard largely historical evidence.
Not to speak ill of the dead, but..... I bet that the disabled do not submit any claims concerning Titwhai Harawera.
In 1988 Harawira, her daughter Hiniwhare, son Arthur and two others were found guilty of beating a Carrington Hospital patient. At the time Harawira was head of the Whare Paia Maori health unit. The jury also found Harawira guilty of a charge of threatening to kill. She was jailed for nine months.
The sentencing judge said that the five had carried out a "vicious and violent" attack on the patient and that the offences were "an arrogant and frightening abuse of authority and power".
He described Harawira's role as "outrageous".Imposing a longer prison sentence on Harawira, the judge told her "You were in a position of authority, you ought to have prevented what occurred."
At the time Helen Clark was Minister of Health and Harawira got her own back in 1997 when she made the then-Prime Minister cry by refusing to let her speak on the marae at Waitangi. Harawira said at the time she was highlighting the fact that Maori women couldn't speak on the marae - although she does so herself-so why should the Prime Minister?
Titiwhai showed her true colours a few years later
when she victoriously escorted Prime Minister John Key on to the Te Tii Marae - having won a battle of wills with Ngapuhi elders - she stood out in a mint-green jacket and chiffon top in a sea of black. White lace gloves and a fan completed the outfit, a flowing scarf - and often a long string of pearls-favoured over carved pounamu.
Quite how this diminutive nana, hobbling along on crutches, can spook an entire marae and dignitaries is un-clear. But spook them she does. The point is, who will be brave enough to manhandle a little old lady out of the way? Titewhai Harawira it seems. In 2009 when marae elders wanted her replaced with Nellie Rata, Matiu Rata's widow, Harawira allegedly elbowed her out of the way as Prime Minister John Key arrived.
Compare that woman facing assault charges with the one who shuffled on to the lower marae with John Key. He later described her as a "gentle old lady". Harawira responds with, "Well, that's nice" when the remark is repeated. She likes Key, she says, and thinks he makes clear decisions.