A candidate for Kaipara’s new Māori ward has brushed off questions about his convictions, and, going by numerous other names.
Paturiri Toautu is vying to represent Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward against four other candidates: Henry Anthony Holyoake, Phillip Johnson, Brenden Nathan and Pera Paniora.
Toautu’s candidate profile said his vision is to establish Tino Rangatiratanga in Kaipara, fly the Māori flag beside the New Zealand flag and combat drugs.
His candidate profile displays his distinctive tā moko, but does not mention his previous names, including Moemoea Mohoawhenua, Penehamine Natana-Patuawa and Benjamin Nathan – who infamously took a sledgehammer to the America’s Cup in 1997.
READ MORE:
* Election 2020: Man who smashed the America’s Cup standing for Te Tai Tokerau
* Northland Māori candidate is Pākehā man opposed to Māori seats
* Kaipara mayoral race: Six people battle for seat vacated by Dr Jason Smith
* Northland MP proposes bill to publish candidates’ convictions, jail time
Under the name Mohoawhenua, he stood as a Kaipara mayoral candidate in 2019 and as a candidate for Te Tai Tokerau MP in 2020.
In 2021, he tried to sell souvenirs from the attack on the Auld Mug to raise funds for his Tino Rangitiratanga Liberation Organisation Political party.
Paturiri Toautu was previously known as Penehamine Netana-Putuawa, seen in this 2013 photo promoting a feature film in which he starred, directed, produced and edited. (File photo)
A press release by Toautu in July said he was best known for his “noble” act of symbolically smashing the America’s Cup and acknowledged he changed his name from Benjamin Nathan by legal deed poll.
When Stuff asked why he had changed his name, Toautu responded in Te Reo Māori: “He Pakeha patai o korotake”, which roughly translates as “this is a useless Pākehā question”.
When asked what he would say to voters who might think he changed his name to hide his past, he went a step further, calling the question “ka ka” (shit).
Toautu also refused to answer a question about his convictions. He has previously been sentenced to a year’s jail for bashing the America’s Cup.
Lawrence Smith/Stuff
Paturiri Toautu was previously known as Benjamin, or Ben, Nathan, who took part in an Auckland Boxing Association showdown in 2002. (File photo)
The remaining candidates for Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori Ward include a carpentry tutor, child welfare advisor, salesperson and lawyer.
Henry Holyoake’s candidate profile said he has been in governance roles for Māori trusts, education and sporting, runs a building company specialising in marae builds and is a Northtec tutor in carpentry.
Phillip Johnson’s candidate profile said he is a senior advisor for Oranga Tamariki’s Māori Partnerships and Communities team, previously served in the New Zealand Army and now enjoys Northland’s outdoor lifestyle.
Brenden Nathan, who is also running for Kaipara mayor, has previous worked for Silver Fern Farms and Dargaville Ford, and said he saw the Māori ward as an opportunity for Māori to encourage, influence and contribute to key areas.
Pera Paniora worked as a lawyer in Dargaville for six years before leading Ngāti Whatua’s environment and natural resource space. She has also volunteered in various roles including being part of the Matike Mai constitutional transformation report.
Voting closes at midday on October 8, although any voting papers must now be put into council secure ballot boxes, rather than being posted.
