"We must win back our rights," the Maori Party MP told the small but appreciative audience who attended the foreshore and seabed consultation hui at the Araiteuru marae yesterday.
Beginning with the disclaimer he was "not middle-of-the-road", Mr Harawira raised a laugh with the audience with his presentation, which began with the headline: "Labour stole it and we want it back."
The passing of the Foreshore and Seabed Act almost five years ago was the catalyst for the creation of the Maori Party, and the time was right to review - and, hopefully, repeal - the Act, he said.
The outcome of the 2008 general election meant the Maori Party was now a "player at the table", as part of its agreement with the National Government allowed for a review of the 2004 Act.
"It is not about Maori and National forever. We desire to be a player at the table regardless of who wins the most votes at the next election.
I hope we win all seven [Maori] seats at the next election, signalling to Labour and National we will always be a player. A Maori independent voice."
As part of that voice, Mr Harawira had joined Te Tai Tonga MP Rahui Katene in a series of six hui around the southern Maori electorate to discuss reviewing the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
The Government had appointed a panel to review the Act in a series of public consultation hui later this month and yesterday's hui aimed to encourage people to make submissions, he said.
When asked why the ministerial review panel had bypassed Dunedin in favour of Invercargill and Christchurch, Mr Harawira said his Tai Tokerau electorate had only one, and people could still send submissions to the panel before the May 19 deadline.
Mr Harawira said he supported the 40% of foreshore land that was privately owned being returned to Maori ownership and then protected, "so we can't sell it either".
Mrs Katene said the review was expected to be completed by the end of the year and if the Act was repealed, new legislation may be required to guarantee foreshore rights for future generations.
