Mana News editor Joe Trinder

In an historical meeting between the Maori party and the Mana Movement for a potential alliance in which the big parties stand to lose out. This alliance has the potential to make 15% of the Maori population king maker. You don’t need to be a mathematician to do the numbers on how these organisations working together can secure the lions share of the Maori electoral seats.

Naida Glavish the president of the Maori party made this statement prior to the Mana-Maori meeting “No representatives of the Māori Party will be in attendance. Should any of our membership attend they will be doing so in a personal capacity”

Mana Leader Hone Harawira spoke at the meeting the only leader of either organisations to attend the hui. Hone spoke of a historical alliance in Ngapuhi hundreds of years ago and compared it to modern days. Mr Harawira made this statement “Unity is more important than leadership”

I would like to thank the courage of James Papalii (Mana) and Martin Cooper (Maori) for having the vision to start this dialogue at a grass roots level. Many within both organisations don’t believe it is possible but after today I remain optimistic.

There are some good people in the Maori party but the harsh reality is both our organisations have a last chance to work together if not Labour will  focus it’s resources on Waiariki electoral seat and secure the last of the Maori electoral seats in 2017.

A spokesperson for the Maori party leadership advised the gathering their internal polling in Tamaki is against any Alliance. Therefore we are running an online poll here to see what your opinion is of this Kaupapa.

 Loading ...