HONE is a Māori Activist, and the leader of the MANA Movement.

He was born in Whāngarei and attended St Stephens before going on to Auckland University where he joined Ngā Tamatoa in the early 70s.

HONE stood with Ngāti Whātua at Bastion Point, led He Taua against racism at Auckland University, led the Waitangi Action Committee fight for Treaty rights, led the Patu Squad during the Springbok Tour of 1981, got arrested, called Bishop Tutu as his witness … and won!

HONE led the Kawariki in the 1980’s, unveiled the Tino Rangatiratanga flag in 1990, and met Nelson Mandela, in 1995.

HONE has also visited the New People’s Army in the Philippines, addressed the Physicists’ Against Nuclear War conference in Moscow, attended the International Indian Treaty Council, campaigned against the bombing of Kaho’olawe in Hawai’i, and participated in numerous Indigenous Gatherings around the world.

In 1985, HONE and his whānau moved back to their tribal homelands in the far north of Aotearoa, and over the next 30 years, HONE dedicated his life to developing Māori potential.

In line with that philosophy, HONE served as General Manager for the Aupouri Ngāti Kahu Te Rarawa Trust, Āniwaniwa Kokiri, Te Wānanga Reo o Te Tai Tokerau, Aupouri Māori Trust Board, and Te Hiku Media where he started Te Hiku FM, Sunshine FM, Tai FM, Country FM and Tehiku TV.

During that time HONE also chaired the Far North Rugby League, Rangaunu Sports Club, Āniwaniwa Kohanga Reo, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa, Te Wharekura o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa and Te Wānanga o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa.

HONE has also held national appointments including Chair of Te Whakaruruhau o nga Reo Irirangi Māori o Aotearoa, Chair of Te Pūtahi Pāoho and Member of Te Māngai Pāho.

In 2004 HONE led Māoridom’s largest ever protest, the Foreshore & Seabed March, which launched him in to the NZ Parliament where he served as MP for Tai Tokerau, from 2005-2014. During that time, HONE led a crusade to make Aotearoa Smokefree by 2025, led the Feed the Kids campaign, and supported a number of other Indigenous activities and Anti-Poverty initiatives.

Since 2014 HONE has rebuilt the ANT Trust and runs a prisoner reintegration programme and a Whānau Ora contract. He also launched the Taitokerau Rugby League and one of NZ’s most innovative social service programmes, Open the Curtains. He continues to serve on the Board of his kura, and is engaged in creating and supporting a number of other training and employment initiatives across the north.

HONE has wide tribal connections throughout Tai Tokerau. His mother is from Ngāti Hau and Ngāpuhi, and his father is from Aupouri, Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whatua. Hone’s wife Hilda is from Ngāti Whatua and Te Rarawa. They have 7 children, 7 mokopuna and two great grandchildren.