parliament. COVID-19 pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Harawira led efforts with local iwi (tribes) to set up roadblocks preventing tourists from travelling into the Far North District. Tourists in the region were encouraged to leave. Roadblocks were set up at State Highway 1 at Whakapara and State Highway 12 at Waipoua, and a testing centre was set up at Waiomio Hill south of Kawakawa. Harawira criticised the government for not stopping tourists from entering the country prior to the border closure on 19 March 2020. On 12 April 2020 Harawira drove 340 km to Auckland, disregarding state imposed travel restrictions. In late January 2021, Harawira and local Northland iwi established a checkpoint at Waiomio Hill but police shut it down because there was no official requirement for it, and because of road safety concerns. Harawira criticised the lack of COVID-19 testing facilities north of Whangārei over the long weekend and advocated cancellation of the Waitangi Day public festivities scheduled for 8 February at Waitangi. See also Māori politics References External links Profile at NZ Parliament website (archived from 2014) 1955 births Living people New Zealand left-wing activists Māori Party MPs People from Whangārei People from Auckland Māori activists New Zealand MPs for Māori electorates Independent MPs of New Zealand Mana Movement MPs Mana Māori Movement politicians Leaders of political parties in New Zealand Te Aupōuri people Ngāpuhi people Ngāti Whātua people Ngāti Wai people Ngāti Hine people Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 1996 New Zealand general election Unsuccessful candidates in the 2014 New Zealand general election New Zealand columnists 21st-century New Zealand politicians Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election