A fringe political candidate and serial heckler has been removed from Parliament after interrupting the prime minister's official apology to those abused while in state care.
Karl Mokaraka, who ran for Destiny Church's Vision NZ party last year, stood up in the public gallery and loudly declared his attendance.
"We need Jesus back in this Parliament," he shouted. "How can we heal without Jesus Christ back in this Parliament?"
Mokaraka was also abused in state care, telling Pacific Media Network in August of his support for fellow survivor William Wilson - who he had attended high school with.
"Hurt people hurt people, and that's what happened to William," he said, acknolwedging his part in bullying at Wesley College.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon looks up at the public gallery as the beginning of his official apology is interrupted. Photo: Screengrab
His heckling in Parliament was met by disapproval from other survivors and MPs in attendance.
Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee repeatedly called for security to intervene - "please remove the gentleman from the gallery" - and appeared frustrated at how long it took for them to respond.
"Where are the police, and why aren't they here?" Brownlee said. "On your way."
At least four security guards pulled Mokaraka toward the door before he gave up his resistance and walked out.
Follow RNZ's live updates on the national apology:
In his final words, he called on Te Pāti Māori to "stop the division"; co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer responded, "haere atu", or leave.
After Mokaraka's ejection, Brownlee expressed his disappointment that the survivors' day had begun with "such an unacceptable interruption".
"We know that you come here with good will, having put up with so much in your lives, and how important today is."
Mokaraka stood for Vision NZ in the Panmure-Ōtāhuhu electorate. It was won by Labour's Jenny Salesa, Mokaraka's 387 votes falling far short of her more than 15,000 and putting him at second-to-last of the six candidates.
He gained national attention, and National's attention, after heckling leader Christopher Luxon from behind a fence during the election campaign.
He had earlier followed Chris Hipkins around at the Ōtara markets, and later interrupted ACT's campaign launch in Auckland - sneaking into the event wearing a false moustache.
