The Harawiras: Our kids keep us together

Hone Harawira says the first time he laid eyes on his wife, it was a true oills and Boon moment.

“I walked into this room and there were 100 students in there but it was like an aura around this one person,” he recalls.

Unfortunately, that one person wasn’t so impressed by him.

The future ors Harawira, then Hilda Halkyard, overhead him telling a friend he had his sights set on her and was annoyed by his impertinence.

“I went back and wrote in my diary, ‘oet some slippery character tonight,’” she recalls.

It was 1973 and Hilda and Hone were at an orientation night for Maori students at the University of Auckland.

Hone refused to be deterred. He found out when her classes were and arranged it so she kept bumping into him.

Hilda was flattered by his “persistent wooing” but was won over when she saw him perform in the haka Poropeihana, with the university’s Maori club that March.

It was the start of an almost 40-year relationship that has weathered both political and personal storms.

Despite oana Party leader Hone’s prickly public persona, it’s obvious theirs is a loving unit where family is the
top priority.

Hone glows when he talks about time spent with his six mokopuna (grandchildren)and Hilda says the love and support the couple received from older members of the family helped them through many tough times.

Life was hard for Hone and Hilda for a while. They first moved to Northland in 1985, living in Te Kao in a place
with a long drop toilet and plastic windows.

Hilda remembers wanting to get back to the land, but going a bit too far, ending up living without electricity.

“We had to go to bed at 7pm just to keep warm,” she recalls.

The pair then moved to a two-bedroom bach in Awanui, near Kaitaia, with five children in tow.

“Every time Hone went away the long drop would fall over,” Hilda recalls.

The couple now have seven children, ranging in age from 23 to 38, who have moved to other parts of the country.

Among them there’s a lawyer, a freestyle rapper, a furniture mover and a youth advocate.

Hone’s away from home several days a week when parliament is sitting.

Hilda says the children from the nearby Te Rangi Aniwaniwa kura kaupapa (Maori language immersion school), where she was principal until recently, ask when Hone’s going to be around.

“The kids say, ‘Is Papa Hone coming this morning?’”

When he goes to the school, Hone always does a uniform check, so Hilda admits she says yes, even if it’s not true.

She has got used to him being away and spends the time focusing on her passions – her work at the school and her part in waka ama (outrigger canoes).

“I do look forward to seeing him when he comes home and I change my schedule to fit in with him,” she says.

“often he comes home tired and just needs downtime, so our date is a drive home on a long trip or a visit to Pak’nSave.”

You can’t talk about Hone’s involvement in politics without mentioning the older ors Harawira. But, for Hilda, meeting formidable activist Titewhai wasn’t intimidating.

“I first saw her at a protest and thought, ‘Wow, she’s beautiful,’” Hilda recalls.

“She had long red hair.

I couldn’t believe she’d had nine children. She was a stunner, well-groomed and well-spoken.”

Hilda says Hone’s worst quality is his impatience.

“He’s a forward-thinking person and sometimes that impatience translates into curtness,” she says.

“People interpret it as being rude, but he’s just impatient to get things done.”

However, she finds it difficult to hear him being criticised. “When it’s politicians I know it’s just games, trying to score a point, but when it’s nasty I get hoha (annoyed).”

While the couple don’t plan to ever completely retire, they will ease up in six years to spend more time with their family.

Hilda says the couple’s mokopuna are the only people who can chill out the famously fiery politician.

“Spending time with them helps keep things in perspective and his mind on what matters.”
“When they want something the world stops,” Hone admits.

Hone and Hilda are sure about what the key to their happy marriage is.

“our kids have kept us together,” says Hilda. Hone says Hilda makes him feel “lucky”.
“Hilda’s the best woman I’ve met,” he says.

“I’m a lucky guy. I love her and she puts up with me.”

“We’ve had a good life,” says Hilda. “We’ve been blessed.”

I’m a lucky
guy. I love her and she puts
up with me