Harawira Hone: General Debate 
Harawira Hone: General Debate 
[Volume:674;Page:20487] 
HONE HARAWIRA (Leader—Mana) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. On Saturday 6 August 2011 the Mana movement held its inaugural AGM in Waitakere. We were privileged to host people from all around the country including Maori Pasifika Pakeha Asians and Europeans all with the desire to be part of a new political movement for change in this country. We had workers we had teachers we had mothers we had sons we had musicians we had truck drivers we had lawyers and we had beneficiaries. We even had MPs from four different political parties and we had a number of long-time party organisers who had walked away from Labour’s decision to abandon the poor and the working class in favour of a scrabble for the votes of middle New Zealand. On top of all that we also had a level of energy goodwill and fun that we just do not normally associate with political party AGMs. It was a great day and now we are rolling on to the general election in November as a party dedicated to being a voice for Maori for workers and for the poor. 
Mana will represent a newer more honest and more principled way of doing politics. We will promote policies that highlight the Treaty as the foundation of our nation the basis by which we can provide immediate relief to those in need and highlight the long-term change that will take the power out of the hands of the rich and return it to ordinary New Zealanders. We will not compromise on principle and neither will we sit politely by while Governments of either persuasion sell our assets to foreign asset-stripping thieves and price our people into poverty and starvation. We will promote candidates chosen for their unremitting fight for justice their track record in advocating for Maori issues and their leadership in the struggle for human rights. 
Mana will contest all seven Maori seats because Maori want us to. They have deserted the Maori Party for selling out to the parties of the rich and they are flocking to the strong and independent leadership that Mana represents. Mana will contest the general seats especially those in communities savaged by cuts in spending on health education and benefits because even the poor deserve to have a champion in Parliament. We have already fielded calls from our Pacific cousins beneficiary advocates and people known and respected in their communities. We intend investing serious time and energy into pushing our policies in low-decile communities. Mana will also target the party vote through policies aimed at reducing prices creating jobs sharing the tax burden increasing Government spending on health and education and keeping the people’s assets in the people’s hands. 
I am humbled by the number of very talented people who have offered their support to Mana and declared their willingness to be candidates for Mana in both Maori and general seats. But we have accepted the request that our electorates be given more time to complete the process by which they choose their candidates in order to ensure that Mana goes into the election with the best possible team. But this I know: Mana’s list will reflect the people we represent. Some will be high-profile and as a collective they will give Mana a real chance of attracting a good percentage of the party vote. 
Mana’s message will be a simple one: party vote for Mana for real change and party vote for Mana for an independent voice for Maori for workers and for the poor. We have affirmed our constitution we have posted our draft policies on the net and we have reaffirmed our national leadership. I am proud to say that Matt McCarten has agreed to continue in his role as party president and that John Minto and Annette Sykes have taken on the roles of co - vice presidents and senior spokespeople for Mana. 
These last few months might have been difficult ones for me but I continue to be overwhelmed by a huge level of support from right across the country for the only party willing to openly champion Maori rights workers’ rights and the rights of the biggest tribe that this country has ever seen: the poor. Tena koe Mr Speaker. Tena tatou katoa.