Watch: Tāmaki Makaurau by-election debate hit by heckler

Thursday, 21 August 2025

Former Vision NZ candidate Karl Mokaraka interuppted a debate in Mangere on Wednesday night.

A Tāmaki Makaurau by-election debate was disrupted on Wednesday by former Vision NZ candidate Karl Mokaraka.

The debate in Māngere was between Labour’s Peeni Henare and Te Pati Māori’s Oriini Kaipara.

Mokaraka had previously disrupted four other political events in recent years.

A Tāmaki Makaurau by-election debate in Auckland on Wednesday night was disrupted by a heckler.

Karl Mokaraka interrupted the debate at Ngā Whare Waatea Marae in Māngere between Labour’s Peeni Henare and Te Pati Māori’s Oriini Kaipara.

Mokaraka appeared to take umbrage that Vision NZ’s by-election candidate Hannah Tamaki was not invited to appear in the debate that was being hosted by Radio Waatea.

“Hannah Tamaki, she didn’t get the invite,” Mokaraka said, while holding a sign of the Vision NZ candidate.

Despite putting up some resistance, Mokaraka was then removed from the marae, shouting “We are supposed to be all Māori, we are supposed to be all encompassing,” as he was taken out.

Mokaraka took issue with Vision NZ candidate not being invited to the debate.

Members of the crowd were heard yelling “You’re a pig brother, you’re a pig,” and “Get out of here Karl,”, before Kaipara led the audience in a waiata to calm the situation.

Mokaraka, a former Vision NZ candidate, first came to prominence in 2023 when he disrupted a news conference between National’s Christopher Luxon and Simeon Brown during the general election campaign.

Mokaraka being escorted out of the ACT party’s 2023 general election campaign launch.

“Will the real Mr Chris Luxon please stand up,” Mokaraka, who was propped on the top of a fence, said.

Luxon replied: “You’re a funny guy, mate, you’re a real funny guy. You’re no Slim Shady, buddy.”

During the same campaign, Mokaraka led a protest of Vision NZ supporters at a Labour campaign event at the Otara markets.“I think politicians are just out of touch at the moment. Just out of touch,” he said at the time.

Mokaraka disrupts a press conference with Christopher Luxon and Simeon Brown.

Mokaraka was then also kicked out of the ACT Party’s campaign launch in Auckland after heckling leader David Seymour.

Mokaraka, who was sporting a fake moustache, could be heard yelling 'don't forget south Auckland' and 'what about Blackrock?' as he was led away by security.

Finally, in 2024, Mokaraka heckled Luxon in parliament as he was giving his apology to survivors in state care.

Mokaraka shouted at Luxon from the public gallery, saying “make New Zealand great” and asking “how can we heal without Jesus Christ back in this Parliament”.

After being asked to leave the gallery multiple times by speaker Gerry Brownlee, Mokaraka was eventually led away by security.

Aside from Mokaraka’s disruption, the Tāmaki Makaurau debate was a civil affair with Kaipara and Henare engaging in pleasantries among one another and even sharing a few jokes with the audience.

During the debate, both candidates spoke about their vision for Tāmaki Makaurau, a city where over 200,000 Maori live, while a range of issues were discussed, including housing, the cost of living, education, foreign affairs, and threats to Te Reo Māori.

Tamaki, Kelvyn Alp of NZ Loyal, and independent candidate Sherry-Lee Matene did not take part in the debate for the by-election that will take place on September 6.

The by-election was called following the death of incumbent MP Te Pati Māori’s Takutai ‘Tarsh’ Kemp in June.

Kemp won the seat off Henare at the last election by just 42 votes.