Press Release

MANA President Annette Sykes

Te Hamua Nikora is “In it to win it”

Wednesday 22nd May 2013

“As President of MANA, I believe we have selected the best candidate to contest the Ikaroa-Rawhiti By-Election and represent MANA” says MANA President Annette Sykes.

“I am truly humbled that we have a candidate of the calibre of Te Hamua Nikora.  Te Hamua is a grassroots person who speaks in a language our people understand.  He has dedicated his life as an advocate for our reo and who has always supported our rangatahi in whatever job he has had”.

“People best know Te Hamua as being a high-profile Maori broadcaster on such shows as Pukana, Kai Time on the Road and Homai Te Pakipaki.  I have had the good fortune to know Te Hamua away from the cameras and I can say that I have always been impressed with his knowledge on particular issues and his passion for wanting to improve the lives of our people”. 

“MANA views the by-election for Ikaroa-Rawhiti as a two-horse race between ourselves and Labour.  If there is one key message I would like to send to the voters of Ikaroa-Rawhiti it is this.  Do you want a strong Maori voice representing your needs in Parliament or do you want a Maori voice that is gagged by the larger Pakeha voice?  I know our people are still hurting over what Labour did to our people in 2004 when it came to the foreshore and seabed and as late as this year, Labour leader David Shearer, agreed with John Key’s view that nobody owns the water.  The bottom line is that when push comes to shove, the Maori voice within Labour is silenced”. 

“I am really looking forward to the by-election in Ikaroa-Rawhiti and I am really excited by the prospect of MANA having another MP in Parliament at the end of June”.

ENDS

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