Hone Harawira MP 10.15PM: Rogue Maori MP Hone Harawira has regained his place in Parliament, attracting a slim majority of votes in today's by-election. Harawira connected briefly with a few of Auckland's gay community just over a week ago when he put in an appearance at the re-launch of Lola Bar on Ponsonby Road at the suggestion of gay political gadfly Jevan Goulter. Harawira told GayNZ.com Daily News that night that he attended to do penance for his controversial visit to Destiny Church. "I got such a lot of shit from my relations, takataapui relations." With all of the votes now counted in the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, called when he resigned from Parliament and the Maori Party, Harawira won with a 867 vote majority over closest rival Labour MP Kelvin Davis. His newly-created Mana party will have its first conference tomorrow. When Parliament resumes Harawira will take a place on the front benches as a party leader. The results of the by-election were: Hone Harawira, Mana Party 5611 votes Kelvin Davis, Labour 4744 votes Solomon Tipene, Maori Party 1026 votes Kelvyn Alp, OUR 63 votes Maki Herbert ALCP 126 votes. You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 25th June 2011 - 10:35pm