MANA Movement heralds new political partnership

“This deal is good news for MANA," said Hone Harawira, MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

Harawira was speaking following the signing of an agreement for MANA and the Internet Party to enter into a formal alliance in the lead up to the general election.

Brokered by Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom, party chief executive Vikram Kumar and MANA officials including leader Hone Harawira, the deal has been formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the two parties submit a combined list of candidates to contest the party vote in the 2014 General Election.

While both parties will retain their separate identities, a new political party called Internet MANA will be formed.

“It’ll help us connect with rangatahi and get more people out to vote, attract a wider voter base, and increase our presence in Parliament – all while holding firm to our policies," Harawira adds.

“And the best news of all is that working together will help us change the government – because there’ll be more MANA and Internet Party MPs to make sure that happens.

“It’s taken time to get to this point, but we wanted to give our members time to get their heads around what this alliance might mean, and I am pleased to advise that our Executive and our membership have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the alliance.”