Annette Sykes
Encyclopedia
Annette Te Imaima Sykes (born c.1961) is a Rotorua
activist and lawyer who fights for the rights of Māori tribes to be self-governing
.
waka.
Sykes is a graduate of University of Auckland
and has been practising as a lawyer since 1984. She is a partner in the law firm in Rotorua
which was recently established following the restructuring of the firm Rangitauira & Co., which has attracted attention due to the large amount of legal aid it has benefited from. Sykes is a human rights lawyer
specialising in the rights of indigenous peoples
to promote their own systems of law.
Sykes is an advocate for Māori independence and a nuclear free, genetic engineering free independent Pacific. She was a Māori Party
member but became a prominent member of the Mana Party
in 2011. She was listed second on the Mana Party list for the 2011 election, as well as standing in the Waiariki
electorate.
Sykes is lawyer to high-profile activist Tame Iti
who is currently facing charges in relation to the 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids
.
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
activist and lawyer who fights for the rights of Māori tribes to be self-governing
Tino rangatiratanga
Tino rangatiratanga is a Māori term that can be interpreted as chieftainship. It is probably the most contentious phrase from the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi...
.
Biography
Sykes is of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Makino descent, two of the confederated tribes of Te ArawaTe Arawa
Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapu based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas of New Zealand, with a population of around 40,000.The history of the Te Arawa people is inextricably linked to the Arawa canoe...
waka.
Sykes is a graduate of University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and has been practising as a lawyer since 1984. She is a partner in the law firm in Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
which was recently established following the restructuring of the firm Rangitauira & Co., which has attracted attention due to the large amount of legal aid it has benefited from. Sykes is a human rights lawyer
International human rights law
International human rights law refers to the body of international law designed to promote and protect human rights at the international, regional and domestic levels...
specialising in the rights of indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
to promote their own systems of law.
Sykes is an advocate for Māori independence and a nuclear free, genetic engineering free independent Pacific. She was a Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
member but became a prominent member of the Mana Party
Mana Party (New Zealand)
The Mana Party is a New Zealand political party led by Hone Harawira. It was formed in April 2011, and plans to contest the 2011 general election. Standing under the Mana Party banner, Mana won an early victory when Mr Harawira won the by-election in Te Tai Tokerau held on 25 June 2011...
in 2011. She was listed second on the Mana Party list for the 2011 election, as well as standing in the Waiariki
Waiariki (New Zealand electorate)
Waiariki is a New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate.It is currently held by Te Ururoa Flavell MP.-Population Centres:The electorate includes the following population centres:* Tauranga* Whakatane* Rotorua* Taupo-Tribal Areas:...
electorate.
Work and Reaction
Sykes has been heavily criticised for her work regarding Māori independence, having received death threats and bullets in her letterbox in retaliation for her work. She has also been an outspoken supporter of controversial figures in Māori politics such as Titewhai Harawira which has earned her much criticism.Sykes is lawyer to high-profile activist Tame Iti
Tame Iti
Tāme Wairere Iti has become well known in New Zealand as a Tūhoe Māori activist.- Early life :Born on a train near Rotorua, Tame Iti grew up with his grandparents in the custom known as whāngai on a farm near Ruatoki in the Urewera area of New Zealand...
who is currently facing charges in relation to the 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids
2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids
The 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids were a series of armed police raids conducted on Monday, 15 October 2007, in response to the discovery of an alleged paramilitary training camp deep in the Urewera mountain range near the town of Ruatoki in the eastern Bay of Plenty...
.