{"id":5511,"date":"2015-06-08T12:17:53","date_gmt":"2015-06-07T23:17:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mananews.co.nz\/wp\/?p=5511"},"modified":"2015-06-08T12:17:53","modified_gmt":"2015-06-07T23:17:53","slug":"mana-still-pumpin-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mananews.co.nz\/wp\/?p=5511","title":{"rendered":"MANA still pumpin\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hone\"<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>Mana Leader Hone Harawira<\/p>\n

\"20150606_104013\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had our AGM over the weekend\u201d said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira \u201cand I was blown away by the resilience of our crew, their inventiveness and their courage in helping drive the campaigns that are involved in all round the country\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the election MANA members have played critical roles in the \u2018End Zero Hours\u2019 campaign, action against the sale of state houses, fighting the war on the poor, starting small businesses, feed the kids initiatives, and a whole host of other activities\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s what makes MANA so special\u201d said Harawira. \u201cHaving an MP helps but it\u2019s clearly not the sole purpose for MANA and that\u2019s why I love being part of this Movement\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had speakers from right across the political spectrum talking to us about issues as diverse as te reo Maori, the foolishness of war, the cost of poverty, the vicious attacks on the people living in the Gaza strip, the Ture Whenua Maori Act, and innovative housing designs\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had strong women speakers, Pasifika, Pakeha, kaumatua and kuia, and some really awesome rangatahi as well and I feel really positive about MANA\u2019s future in their hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a range of speakers talk to us about the use and value of social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard about how $600 million will refurbish half of all state houses in Aotearoa, but how government was more likely to spend that money on two planes for the air-force.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard about the successful campaign led by Unite Union to \u2018End Zero Hours\u2019 and bring an end to fast food outlet\u2019s plans to drive workers into poverty.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeakers talked about how the new Te Ture Whenua M\u0101ori Act was nothing more than a modern day land confiscation and what steps we might take to protect Maori land.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard about the latest developments in the campaign to stop the TPPA, and we passed a motion to support putting the case before the Waitangi Tribunal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had Reo M\u0101ori graduates outlining the ongoing value of Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura schooling for M\u0101ori youth; kuia talking about the ongoing threats to the reo despite all the hard work in Kohanga Reo; and we also heard from Labour MP Peeni Henare who added his voice to the call from MANA to make Maori compulsory in all schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard from MANA Pasifika about using different language media to reach a huge audience who were likely to be receptive to MANA kaupapa.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard from a range of speakers including a lecturer in engineering, a project manager in whareuku construction and an intern in earthship technology outline new and innovative house building techniques, a strong presentation from the Social Housing Action Network, and the tabling of a motion for rent controls to stop landlords ripping people off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard how the mainstream media had made the news into \u201cbubble gum media\u201d highlighted by the recent sacking of John Campbell from TV3 and the resignation of Mihingarangi Forbes over political interference in news and current affairs at Maori TV, and we heard of positive steps being taken to use on-line media to get the people\u2019s voice out to the masses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe reconfirmed our National Exec for 2015<\/p>\n