August 11, 2020
History the judge as Hingston mourned
Former Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell is crediting the late Judge Heta Hingston for his political career.
Judge Hingston died on Sunday at his home in Rotorua, aged 82.
Mr Flavell says he played a critical role in the formation of the Māori Party.
It was an appeal supporting his finding that Ngāti Apa had the right to ask the Māori Land Court to determine whether it owned space in the Marlborough Sounds that lead to the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
Judge Hingston, who was by then retired, encouraged people to create a party to support rebel Labour MP Tariana Turia, and he encouraged Mr Flavell to stand for parliament.
"I said 'I'm not going to self-nominate, I think that's a bit over the top, but if you can find 100 people willing to support me to go to parliament, I'll go.' Two days later he arrived back with 100 signatures plus. That's him. There's a lot of history there," Mr Flavell says.
The nehu for Heta Ken Hingston at Rongomaipapa Marae near Rotorua.
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