Mana Party (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
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. Mana has held onto this seat during the New Zealand general election, 2011
, and currently has one seat in parliament.
which followed his resignation from the Māori Party.
after that party's disciplinary committee recommended his expulsion. He had been vocal in his opposition to the Māori Party's position on the foreshore and seabed
issue. Harawira subsequently began organising a new party to compete with the Māori Party, and attracted the support of left-wing activist John Minto
and former Green MPs Nándor Tánczos
and Sue Bradford
. The party was formally launched on 30 April 2011.
On 4 May 2011 Harawira stated his intention to resign his seat Te Tai Tokerau
in order to have himself recognised as a candidate of the Mana Party in any subsequent by-election; after his resignation from the Māori Party, parliamentary rules on political parties in the House officially recognised Harawira only as an Independent MP. Following criticism that the by-election would be "a ridiculous publicity stunt" and would cost the NZ taxpayer $500,000, Harawira put his resignation on hold, saying that he wanted to take the decision back to the people of his Te Tai Tokerau electorate. He announced his resignation from Parliament, forcing the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, on 11 May.
Possible candidates for other constituencies include Māori lawyer and party co-vice president Annette Sykes
and former Alliance organiser and party chairman Matt McCarten
. Harawira hopes that five Mana MPs will enter the 50th New Zealand Parliament
after 26 November 2011.
The party applied for registration on 24 May 2011.
Registration was officially granted on 24 June 2011. In September 2011 the party's logo was registered by the Electoral Commission.
In the election Mana ran a total of 20 candidates, with 7 in Maori electorate seats, 12 in General Seats and one on list. Mr Harawira comfortably retained his seat in Te Tai Tokerau, and Annette Sykes managed to poll over 5,000 votes in the Maori stronghold of Waiariki. Countrywide Mana gained just under 20,000 votes, and therefore 1% of the electorate. However, Mana has not made any significant gains in the election in terms of parliamentary seats, and it is unsure how this will impact the new party.
Mana describes itself as 'a political waka for all peoples' with a specific focus on giving a voice to 'the poor, the powerless and the dispossessed' and to 'empower them against the government by the rich and powerful for the rich and powerful'.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
political party led by Hone Harawira
Hone Harawira
Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira is a New Zealand Māori activist and parliamentarian. He was elected to the Parliament of New Zealand for the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau in the 2005 general election as the Māori Party candidate. His resignation caused the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, held...
. It was formed in April 2011, and plans to contest the 2011 general election
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
. Standing under the Mana Party banner, Mana won an early victory when Mr Harawira won the by-election in Te Tai Tokerau
Te Tai Tokerau by-election, 2011
The 2011 Te Tai Tokerau by-election was a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of Te Tai Tokerau that was caused by Hone Harawira's resignation from the seat. He chose to re-contest it with the Mana Party in order to seek a new mandate for his views...
held on 25 June 2011. Mana has held onto this seat during the New Zealand general election, 2011
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
, and currently has one seat in parliament.
which followed his resignation from the Māori Party.
Formation
The party formed following Hone Harawira's resignation from the Māori PartyMaori 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...
after that party's disciplinary committee recommended his expulsion. He had been vocal in his opposition to the Māori Party's position on the foreshore and seabed
New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy
The New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy is a debate in the politics of New Zealand. It concerns the ownership of the country's foreshore and seabed, with many Māori groups claiming that Māori have a rightful claim to title. These claims are based around historical possession and the Treaty...
issue. Harawira subsequently began organising a new party to compete with the Māori Party, and attracted the support of left-wing activist John Minto
John Minto
John Minto is a New Zealand based political activist known for his involvement in various left-wing groups and causes, most notably Halt All Racist Tours. A 2005 documentary on New Zealand's top 100 history makers listed him as number 89. Today he is involved with the protest group Global Peace...
and former Green MPs Nándor Tánczos
Nandor Tanczos
Nándor Steven Tánczos , a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2008, represented the Green Party as a list MP. He briefly lost his seat in the 2005 General Election, but returned to Parliament following the sudden death of Rod Donald just prior to the first sitting of Parliament, as he...
and Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford is a New Zealand politician who served as a list Member of Parliament representing the Green Party from 1999 to 2009.- Early life :...
. The party was formally launched on 30 April 2011.
On 4 May 2011 Harawira stated his intention to resign his seat Te Tai Tokerau
Te Tai Tokerau
Te Tai Tokerau is a New Zealand Parliamentary Māori electorate. Since 2005, it has been held by MP Hone Harawira. A by-election was held in this seat due to Harawira's resignation from Parliament...
in order to have himself recognised as a candidate of the Mana Party in any subsequent by-election; after his resignation from the Māori Party, parliamentary rules on political parties in the House officially recognised Harawira only as an Independent MP. Following criticism that the by-election would be "a ridiculous publicity stunt" and would cost the NZ taxpayer $500,000, Harawira put his resignation on hold, saying that he wanted to take the decision back to the people of his Te Tai Tokerau electorate. He announced his resignation from Parliament, forcing the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, on 11 May.
Possible candidates for other constituencies include Māori lawyer and party co-vice president Annette Sykes
Annette Sykes
Annette Te Imaima Sykes is a Rotorua activist and lawyer who fights for the rights of Māori tribes to be self-governing.-Biography:Sykes is of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Makino descent, two of the confederated tribes of Te Arawa waka....
and former Alliance organiser and party chairman Matt McCarten
Matt McCarten
Matthew "Matt" McCarten is a New Zealand political organiser. He has been involved with several leftist or centre-left political parties, and is also active in the trade-union movement...
. Harawira hopes that five Mana MPs will enter the 50th New Zealand Parliament
50th New Zealand Parliament
The 50th New Zealand Parliament will be elected at the 2011 election. It will contain 121 members , and will serve from 26 November 2011 until another election is called, no later than early 2015....
after 26 November 2011.
The party applied for registration on 24 May 2011.
Registration was officially granted on 24 June 2011. In September 2011 the party's logo was registered by the Electoral Commission.
General election 2011
The Mana Party did not receive taxpayer-funded television airtime during the 2011 general-election campaign, as it was formed after the 17 March deadline for funding applications.In the election Mana ran a total of 20 candidates, with 7 in Maori electorate seats, 12 in General Seats and one on list. Mr Harawira comfortably retained his seat in Te Tai Tokerau, and Annette Sykes managed to poll over 5,000 votes in the Maori stronghold of Waiariki. Countrywide Mana gained just under 20,000 votes, and therefore 1% of the electorate. However, Mana has not made any significant gains in the election in terms of parliamentary seats, and it is unsure how this will impact the new party.
Policies
- Abolish Goods and Services TaxGoods and Services Tax (New Zealand)Goods and Services Tax is a value added tax introduced in New Zealand on 1 October 1986 at 10%. It later increased to 12.5% on 1 July 1989 and was further increased to 15% on 1 October 2010....
(GST) - Establish a Financial Transaction Tax ("Hone HekeHone HekeHone Wiremu Heke Pokai was a Māori rangatira and war leader in Northern New Zealand and a nephew of Hongi Hika, an earlier war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi. Hone Heke is considered the principal instigator of the Flagstaff War....
" Tax) - Nationalise monopolies and duopolies
- Full employment
- 20,000 new state houses for the dispossessed
- $15 minimum wage
- Free education from preschool through tertiary study
- Supporting MMP as the best representation for ordinary New Zealanders
Mana describes itself as 'a political waka for all peoples' with a specific focus on giving a voice to 'the poor, the powerless and the dispossessed' and to 'empower them against the government by the rich and powerful for the rich and powerful'.