From heckler to hopeful: Karl Mokaraka hopes to swap antisocial antics for elected role in Ōtara-Papatoetoe
Karl Mokaraka interrupts Christopher Luxon and Simeon Brown in 2023 in a scene that went viral. Photo / Business Desk
With a General Election coming up you might expect New Zealand’s most notorious political heckler to be dusting off his fake moustache for a few months of long-awaited action.
But Karl Mokaraka instead hopes to ditch his antisocial antics - because he is standing for office himself.
The familiar face is seeking votes for a seat on the Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board, he says, so he can debate the issues “from inside the tent”.
A new election has been ordered there, after 79 voting papers were cast in last year’s local body elections without the rightful voters’ knowledge.
Mokaraka (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa) told the Herald that - if elected - he’ll probably put his heckling days behind him.
Mokaraka came to national prominence in 2023 when he confronted then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at the Ōtara Markets.
“I knew Hipkins would come to the markets and sure enough he did,” Mokaraka said, about planning his move.
“I started yelling ‘no more Labour pains’. Hipkins looked at me and made a beeline for his vehicle and left. He was trying to laugh it off.”
He next appeared at an Act Party conference in front of several hundred people in Auckland’s Civic Theatre, wearing a fake moustache.
“I had to dress up to get into the venue. I was upfront and used my real name because you had to register for the conference,” Mokaraka said.
“I guess the Act people didn’t do their homework. I tried to keep myself anonymous and wait for the right opportunity.
“I saw the moment and all I said to Seymour was ‘don’t forget about South Auckland’, when I interrupted him.
Security dragged Mokaraka out.
His most famous heckle was when he interrupted Christopher Luxon’s press conference in 2023 at Botany - he says to talk about crime in the area, believing Luxon had been too absent.
Mokaraka said he made attempts to be mindful and non-threatening because he didn’t want to provoke the security staff.
The image of Mokaraka on a fence behind Luxon and Simeon Brown went viral.
It’s not Mokaraka’s first tilt at politics. He stood unsuccessfully for Vision NZ at the 2023 general election - but is standing as an independent now.
“I’m an independent and not a party first, people last,” he said.
The father of four was born and raised in Ōtara and has been married to his wife Teresa for 25 years.
He says his background is in financial management - “some might say debt collection” - and youth work and he wants to be “the voice of the people”.
“Locals encouraged me because I’m not afraid to stand up for our community,” he said.
“I want to make sure families have a voice on local issues,” Mokaraka said.
Some of Mokaraka’s heckling has caused serious offence.
He yelled at Luxon to “make New Zealand great” as others in the gallery and members in the chamber told him to leave.
At least four security guards were required to initially pull him away from the gallery guard rail from where he was yelling at the Prime Minister.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told him to get out in te reo and Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee described it as an “unacceptable disruption”.
He said he later apologised by text to Willie Jackson, and said he didn’t mean to trample on the mana of his mum’s marae or her achievements in South Auckland.
Mokaraka was ejected from Parliament again last month, but he claims it’s never personal.
“It’s not aimed at individuals but our families’ anguish,” Mokaraka told the Herald.
“I ask the politicians what they are doing for those who have no voice and are finding things tough.
“My mum came out of the gang, changed her life and became a Christian and I saw her commitment to helping others,” Mokaraka said.
“That’s what grounded me. I try to speak for those who don’t have a voice.
“My background in financial matters and youth work gives me an insight into what is going on in communities. I have a special link to it.”
Voting closes on April 9 in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board byelection.
Joseph Los’e was a chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.