We have Mana Party leader Hone Harawira live with us now.
Tena koe, Hone.
The new PM Bill English, thoughts?
He isn't exactly a new PM, he's a part of the furniture.
He was defeated in a previous election,
and then with the advent of John Key he hung around like a ghost.
There's nothing new about him.
But are you ok with him being the PM?
How is the relationship between you two?
No doubt you have known him for quite some time?
Do we know each other? Yes.
Do we have a relationship? No.
Bill English is similar to John Key.
They are both cut from the same cloth.
They are in a party who support the rich,
because the leaders of the party itself are the voices of the rich.
That's John Key and Bill English.
Would you say deputy PM Paula Bennett is also cast
from the same mould?
She was born a Maori woman.
It's appropriate she be applauded for what she has achieved.
But what kind of achievement is it?
It's an achievement for who we oppose.
It's an achievement for a party that takes from the poor,
that makes things harder for the unemployed etc.
So even though she is a Maori woman,
and she deserves recognition for what she has achieved,
she can't change what the Government has done.
So you don't believe she will have any positive impact for Maori
because she is of Maori descent?
Will she help us?
My moko said to me she's got great lipstick.
That's it really.
Well that's better than nothing!
A recently published report says
more than 150,000 children are living in poverty.
When will the Government fix this major problem?
I really feel for our children living in poverty.
I feel for all our families living in that condition.
To answer your question.
If that isn't important to you to keep our kids fed,
then it can't be fixed.
So for me and the Mana Party, it is an issue that is first,
second and third.
Feed the kids for a better world.
If we can't keep our kids fed, then who are we?
Furthermore, this issue is sort of related to the new legislation
which has just gone before Parliament,
the Oranga Tamariki bill.
That bill scraped through its first reading in the house.
Are you concerned about the bill?
Well going back to your question about childhood poverty.
The Government is saying we aren't doing enough for our children
so now they are going to take our kids from us.
I was in Australia when the apology was read out
to the Stolen Generations.
National are going to make that mistake from tomorrow onwards
here in New Zealand.
So everyone, be careful.
Hang onto your children,
hang onto our Maori culture to keep our culture alive
into the future.
Your words and advice on looking after children are sagely
as we head on over to Christmas.
As we know, you have a bach in Ahipara, in Ruakaka
and several other places in the north.
So where are you off to for Christmas?
My friend, that's the great thing about being Maori.
We have lots of relations and places to go.
No matter where you are in the north, there's a home available.
My plans for this Christmas is to spend it at home with my grandkids.
So I'd like to say seasons greetings to all of our families.
And to quickly recap on what's important – love your kids,
your spouse so we as a people are well throughout the country.
Such great advice for everyone to heed.
Hone Harawira, thank you for your time.