Nothing to do with Hone

David Fisher at NZ Herald reports:

Three sons of anti-violence campaigner Hinewhare Harawira – and nephews of MP Hone Harawira – are facing charges over an assault on a 12-year-old boy. …

The three sons facing charges of injuring with intent to injure in relation to the August 24 incident are Mau Toa Harawira, 30, Enesi Zane Brooks Taito, 25, and Tohora Harawira, 22.

Assaulting a child is loathsome. However I think the reference to Hone Harawira and headline of “Harawira sons charged” is inappropriate.

These three people are all adults. One of them is 30. Their uncle is not responsible for what they do. Even their mother is not responsible.

The parliamentary office of Hone Harawira, leader of the Mana Party and MP for Te Tai Tokerau, declined to comment.

He shouldn’t have been asked to comment. Would any other MP be asked to comment on what an adult nephew does?

Don’t take this to mean any support for the three men who have been charged. Three adult men beating up a 12 year old is awful, and if guilty they should be punished. But I don’t believe in guilt by association.