On Tuesday, RNZ reported:
Police Minister Mark Mitchell's office has apologised to Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke after reposting a reel on Instagram that falsely claimed the Te Pāti Māori MP’s ancestors came from China and "were yellow Vikings".
When contacted by 1News about the repost, a spokesperson for the Minister said it was "an honest mistake".
This isn’t just a one-off “whoopsie” from a bumbling minister. It’s a
window into the National Party’s broader pattern of dog-whistle politics
and systemic bias. Mitchell, a former cop turned private security
contractor, has a history of policies and rhetoric that
disproportionately target Māori. Take his 2023 clash with “They’re Our
Whānau,” who protested National’s anti-gang laws. Their spokesperson,
Matilda Kahotea, accused Mitchell of “arrogant” and “intimidating”
conduct, claiming his anti-gang stance was a thinly veiled attack on
Māori communities. Mitchell’s response? He doubled down, dismissing
their concerns and labeling them a “gang hikoi.”
The National Party’s racism isn’t just Mitchell’s pet project...it’s a team effort. In 2023, during the election campaign. Māori leaders, including Naida Glavish, condemned the “unacceptable levels of racism” from right-wing candidates pushing to dismantle Māori-focused policies like the Māori Health Authority. National, while not fully endorsing ACT’s extremism, refused to rule out rolling back these initiatives. This is the same party that, under Mitchell’s watch, has championed “boot camps” for youth offenders, policies that disproportionately harm Māori youth.
And then there’s the right’s bizarre obsession with hating young, successful women...especially those who challenge their worldview. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, a rising star at 22, embodies everything the National Party's old guard fears: a fierce, articulate Māori woman and left-wing MP to be reckoned with. Mitchell’s attack on her heritage wasn’t just racist; it was a calculated jab at a young woman daring to succeed. Look at how they’ve treated other young female MPs like Chlöe Swarbrick...constantly undermining their credibility while propping up their own stale, pale, male candidates.
Mitchell’s latest gaffe, combined with National’s track record, paints a clear picture: this is a party comfortable leaning into racism when it suits their base. From dismissing systemic bias in policing (despite Police Commissioner Andrew Coster’s acknowledging it) to amplifying divisive rhetoric, Mitchell and National are playing a dangerous game. New Zealand deserves better than a government that vilifies its indigenous people and sneers at young women leading the charge for change. Mitchell’s apology might close this chapter, but the book on National’s bigotry is far from finished.
