“Hone is Back in the House”
“Yesterday marked a historic occasion” states MANA Co-Leader Annette Sykes. “The newest political force in this country
now has a representative in Parliament. When Hone Harawira took his seat next to Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman, the
people of MANA can now be heard in the most powerful institution in this country. Finally Maori, the poor and the
disenfranchised have a true voice when it comes to expressing their views and concerns”.
“Hone has yet again demonstrated his ability to change things for the better for this country. He did it with the Maori
Affairs Select Committee into the Tobacco Industry and it now looks like politicians from across the spectrum are keen
to see the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ being made more relevant, giving this country’s politicians the ability to pledge their
loyalty to the founding document of this country, the Treaty of Waitangi, and to the people they represent. It would
seem that the Speaker’s inability to accommodate Hone’s pledge may now lead to a wholesale change as people start to
question the relevance of the Queen of England and her heirs to the running of this country”.
“Yesterday was a proud day for MANA and I look forward to being part of a team that returns more representatives after
November 26th that are motivated to participate in politics for all the right reasons; restoring rights to Maori,
reducing the inequality between the rich and the poor and to giving a voice to those who feel marginalised in the
country in which they live”.
ENDS