From newsreader to racist

Oriini Kaipara dresses as Julius Malema, who publicly chants to kill white people

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to scroll through X this week, you’ll no doubt have seen the bizarre spectacle of Te Pāti Māori candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau, Oriini Kaipara, and her choice of costume. I say costume, because that’s what it was. Not professional attire, not a statement of seriousness – but a costume designed to shock, divide, and align herself with some of the ugliest politics on the planet.

At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking Kaipara had simply wrapped herself in a picnic blanket – or worse, that she was just another homeless Māori draped in whatever was lying around outside the op shop. Look closer. It wasn’t just a blanket. It was a blanket with the South African flag emblem. Sitting proudly on her head? A red beret.

Sound familiar? It should. Because in South Africa, that very outfit is the trademark of Julius Malema – the far-left racist extremist, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, and convicted hate speech merchant. Malema is infamous for openly chanting “Kill the Boer” (kill the white farmer), and declaring that revolution requires blood. He is a man who thrives on stirring up racial hatred and glorifying violence.

This is who Oriini Kaipara decided to emulate. Not a respected leader, not a symbol of unity, but a racist demagogue whose idea of progress is to incite murder. It’s obvious that Kaipara stands with the ideology of Malema. She is importing his brand of racial politics into New Zealand and turning it against Pākehā.

Even Winston Peters, no stranger to calling out political absurdities, asked the obvious question: why on earth is the mainstream media silent? Why are they refusing to demand answers from Kaipara about why she wore the uniform of a man who openly advocates for killing white people? If the roles were reversed, and a European candidate draped themselves in the flag of apartheid South Africa, the press would be baying for blood. But because it’s Te Pāti Māori, we’re expected to look the other way.

Te Pāti Māori are the most openly racist and divisive party in New Zealand politics. They’ve built their entire brand on separatism, victimhood, and theatre. Oriini Kaipara’s stunt was not just offensive – it was dangerous. It was a clear attempt to normalise Malema-style racial radicalism in New Zealand.

What does Kaipara bring to the table beyond cheap theatrics? Nothing. In fact, her interview with Moana Maniapoto on Te Ao was embarrassing. Asked how Te Pāti Māori might actually make a difference in Parliament, her response was laughable, the dress code. While Māori communities are being devastated by drugs, gangs, poverty and babies getting bashed to death, Oriini Kaipara thinks the biggest issue to tackle in Parliament is what MPs wear.

It’s pathetic. It’s insulting. It proves she has no business being anywhere near political power. If the best she can offer is cosplay politics and red-beret roleplay, then she should crawl back to the newsroom where at least she could stick to reading someone else’s words instead of humiliating herself with her own.

The voters of Tāmaki Makaurau deserve better. Te Pāti Māori deserve to be exposed for the separatist, race-obsessed circus they are. And Oriini Kaipara deserves nothing more than the ridicule she has brought upon herself.