two charities' donations to his election campaigns, which he described as racist. He announced that the Māori Party would be boycotting The Herald. Views and opinions Tamihere has a high public profile, much of it derived from his beliefs on a number of issues. He has made a significant impact in Māori politics by campaigning on behalf of "Urban Māori", who often have no remaining links to their iwi (tribal structures). According to Tamihere, traditional structures such as iwi do not reflect the reality of modern Māori life, and have proven inadequate for solving today's problems. Tamihere has condemned modern iwi organizations as "new feudal tribal constructs", dominated by an elite group far removed from the majority of Maori. These comments have angered many prominent Māori leaders, but won him considerable popularity with ordinary Māori voters, as well as with a large measure of non-Māori supporters. Tamihere has also attracted both criticism and praise for his views on Māori self-sufficiency. According to Tamihere, too many Māori "blam[e] others for our failure", and Māori need to "take responsibility for our own actions". This has placed him at odds with Māori politicians such as Willie Jackson, who accuse Tamihere of "victim-blaming". Tamihere, however, claims that the "victim mentality" holds Māori back, and that Māori need to abandon it if they wish to improve their living standards. Other controversies Tamihere was convicted for three drink driving and other driving offences between 1978 and 1995, according to the National Business Review. In May 2005, Tamihere was cautioned by the New Zealand SPCA after he left two cats when he moved house. Neighbours said the cats had been left without food or water for eleven days and the New Zealand Herald reported that the two cats were discovered with feline immunodeficiency virus. In April 2013, Tamihere made headlines when he removed a wheel clamp himself. In April 2020, two doctors walked off the job at a COVID-19 testing clinic in West Auckland, after claims Tamihere told his staff to lie in order to meet the criteria to get tested for COVID-19. The clinic is operated by the Waipareira Trust, for which Tamihere is the chief executive. Tamihere refused an interview request and said it was an employment matter. See also List of alumni of St Peter's College, Auckland References External links |- |- 1959 births Living people New Zealand Labour Party MPs University of Auckland