Kaumatua surprise choice to oppose Harawira

Solomon Tipene. Photo / Supplied

Hone Harawira's name was barely mentioned yesterday as his old party launched Solomon Tipene's bid to win the Te Tai Tokerau byelection.

The great-grandfather was the surprise pick for the Maori Party, which also interviewed lawyer Mere Mangu and actor Waihoroi Shortland, tipped by many in the north as the frontrunner.

Mr Tipene, 64, was boosted by MP Te Ururoa Flavell and Maori Party co-presidents Ken Mair and Pem Bird at Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland.

But none of them wanted to talk about how they planned to defeat Mr Harawira, who in 2008 won the Tai Tokerau seat with 58 per cent of the vote, more than 6308 votes ahead of Labour list MP Kelvin Davis.

Mr Tipene, who has had a long public service career with Corrections, Child Youth and Family, the army and the old Maori Affairs Department, repeatedly brushed aside questions about the incumbent, saying "I'm not here to talk about Hone", or "this has got nothing to do with Hone". Even when he did refer to his high-profile opponent's impact in the north, he avoided using his name.

"I hope to bring a stabilising factor to Maori politics in Tai Tokerau. For too long now we've had ... a situation where he's made it difficult for our people to ... support Maori politics."

Asked if the party was acting as if Mr Harawira did not exist, Mr Tipene said voters deserved a choice to back the party his opponent had left.

"He does exist. We're only about giving our people choices to remain with the Maori Party and rebuild."

Supporters described Mr Solomon as an endearing man who would appeal to voters.

Mr Tipene said that if he won he would be representing a constituency which was once a "breadbasket" but was now a "basket case" with huge social and economic problems.

Voters go to the polls on June 25 and the short campaign time puts Mr Tipene at a disadvantage to Mr Harawira and Mr Davis. However, Mr Tipene said his networks would make up for it. "I might not have a high profile i roto i te ao Pakeha [in the Pakeha world] but I have a very high profile in the Maori world."

Mr Davis would not be drawn on Mr Solomon except to say he was a "nice kaumatua", but Mr Harawira questioned his profile. "I like Solomon Tipene, he's a nice chap. I have no idea whatsoever how he'll go in mainstream politics but I know a lot of people are asking the question 'who is Solomon Tipene?'."