Early life
edit
Member of Parliament
edit
In the
1999 election
, Horomia stood as the
Labour Party
candidate for the
Ikaroa-R?whiti
electorate, a
M?ori electorate
on the east coast of the
North Island
, stretching from
Gisborne
to
Upper Hutt
. He defeated
Derek Fox
, a prominent figure in M?ori politics, who was standing as an independent candidate.
[5]
In the new Labour government formed after that election, Horomia became a minister outside cabinet, being Associate Minister of M?ori Affairs, Associate Minister for Economic Development, Associate Minister of Employment, and Associate Minister of Education. In 2000,
Dover Samuels
was forced to step down as Minister of M?ori Affairs after criminal allegations were made against him, and Horomia was appointed in his place. Although Samuels was cleared, it was decided that Horomia would retain the M?ori Affairs portfolio.
Labour was defeated in the
2008 general election
, but Horomia retained his seat ? increasing his majority to about 1600. This was despite a challenge from well-known broadcaster Derek Fox.
[6]
Achievements
edit
Horomia played a significant role in setting up M?ori Television and expanding the role of
iwi
radio in New Zealand. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark said she had frequently relied on his knowledge of M?oridom and
M?oritanga
and his input was crucial to the
Foreshore and Seabed legislation
, which Labour passed in 2004 while he was minister. After the controversial bill became law, Associate M?ori Affairs Minister
Tariana Turia
resigned from Labour to form the
M?ori Party
. The law was repealed by the National Government in 2011.
[7]
Horomia was overweight for much of his life. He talked about his health battles and tried to lose weight many times. In 2004, he went on a public diet to encourage others to do the same.
[8]
He died at his home on 29 April 2013 at the age of 62.
[1]
[9]
As Horomia was an electorate MP,
a by-election
was held on 29 June 2013 to elect a replacement.
[10]
Tributes after his death
[1]
came from not only his Labour MP colleagues,
[11]
but also from the
National Government
.
[12]
Labour leader David Shearer cut short a trip to Washington to attend his funeral and said he had "an incredible work ethic, travelling to all parts of the country. He was accepted at pretty much every marae in the country, he was incredibly well-liked, had enormous heart, who worked so hard for his people."
[8]
His
tangi
was held the following week, and the funeral on 4 May.
[13]
References
edit