Maori Party to Challenge for Te Tai Tokerau Seat
The Maori Party is gearing up to win Te Tai Tokerau Maori electoral seat currently held by the Mana Party’s Hone
Harawira, according to Rangimarie Naida Glavish, president of the Maori Party.
“Maori voters in the north are becoming increasingly agitated about the proposed use of our seat as a vehicle to gain
entry to Parliament for the new Pakeha grouping, the Internet Party, being promoted by Kit Dotcom. Ever since the
founding of our party in 2004 our main purpose has been to advance the interests of te iwi Maori. When Hone broke away
from our party to form his own Mana movement, we thought he shared our dedication to solving Maori problems. But with
his recruitment of left wing Pakeha dissidents, and now his proposed alliance with Kim Dotcom, Maori interests are
taking a back seat in Mana activity. We are now in the situation that ours is the only truly Maori Party in Parliament,
and we will not stand by and see our own people used as pawns in someone else’s political game, whatever that game may
be,” said Ms Glavish, who is also chairperson of the strong Northland iwi, Ngati Whatua.
"Playing footsie with the Internet Party to get Kim Dotcom representation in our Parliament will do nothing for the
people in places like Kaikohe or Moerewa, or West Auckland or anywhere else in Te Tai Tokerau. What will help them will
be what the newly-elected Maori Party MP for that electorate can do after 20 September to take the lead in implementing
the ‘Powerhouse Northland’ plan on which our Party will campaign and win that seat, a plan that includes a range of
interesting, challenging and attainable new economic and employment initiatives specifically designed to capitalise on
Maori advantages of land ownership and foreshore access in activities in which our people, young and no-so-young, have
known skills and abilities."
Ms Glavish said the Maori Party is on track to announce the name of its candidate for Te Tai Tokerau before the end of
May.
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