Mana movement Mana Party foundation hui and by-election Mike Kay, Workers Party and Mana Te Raki Paewhenua (North Shore) branch, July 4, 2011

Following ’s election Tiriti, she proposed abolition of the 2014 Hone was endorsed as leader, Raewyn victory, Mana convened a foundation hui deadline for settlements and opposed the Harrison endorsed as interim Party of activists in Whangarei on 26 June. I Crown “deciding who our leaders are.” Secretary and Matt McCarten endorsed will summarise the proceedings of the On environmental issues, she opposed as interim President. An interim hui conducted in English below, followed the Emissions Trading Scheme on the Executive of six people was established, by an assessment of the by-election, and basis that it does not make the polluters to be supplemented by representatives a political appraisal of the prospects for pay. In Education, she proposed that Te from each region. The following few Mana. Reo become a compulsory language. She weeks were designated as time for In Whangarei Matt McCarten set talked of the need for Mana to embrace branches to discuss Mana’s draft policy in the tone by stating: “We did not just win Pākehā as well, and oppose neo-liberal advance of its first AGM on 6 August in a by-election, we changed the nature of policies that “put profit before people, Auckland. There was a consensus to hold politics. There’s a lot of people out there bankers before workers and privatisation out an olive branch to the Māori Party who are not sure what they want, but before the Treaty.” to see if an agreement on standing in they know what they don’t want. The Hilda Harawira spoke of the mamae the other Māori seats could be brokered entire political elite and establishment (pain) and betrayal still felt by Te Tai within the next month. But most of the were against us - there were four anti- Tokerau after its experience with the participants were realistic about its likely Hone editorials in the Herald. We Māori Party. Talking of the effort put in prospects. Most probably, Mana will represent danger because we cannot be by activists in the campaign, she said “the stand against the Māori Party in those bought.” poorest gave more.” seats, and contest some general seats Annette Sykes described Mana as “a Hone Harawira announced that as well. Although McCarten said that Kaupapa Māori party that transcends he would be embarking on a “Hikoi of candidates standing in the general seats race, whanau and hapū... also a party of Hope” across the country to help launch would primarily seek the party vote for the workers.” She said Mana should work Mana as a national movement. The hui Mana. with unions and left activists. On Te also made a number of other decisions: What Mana lacked in resources and

Hone Harawira speaking at the launch of the Mana Party at the Mahurehure in Auckland, April 30th.

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Mana Party leaders at Mahimara Marae in Kaitaia, June 25, the polling day of the Te Tai Tokeray by-election a fully worked out political programme that Mana can lead to a sharpening of Socialists who have misgivings or for the by-election, it made up for in class consciousness around the general apprehensions about Mana would do enthusiasm and commitment. Essentially, election. Even without the intervention well to engage with their local branch activists sought votes on Harawira’s of leftist groups, many Mana activists before writing the movement off so early record, and Te Tai Tokerau responded instinctively grasp the reality that the in the day. by endorsing him and the Mana party needs to differentiate itself from its For a young movement starting movement. As well as retaining the political rivals most especially on class out, the people involved in setting it up political advantages that being a party questions. have a great influence in its subsequent leader in parliament affords, Harawira While some left wing commentators development. As Lenin observed: has gained a mandate. Whilst the Labour have pointed out flaws in Mana, “To say, however, that ideologists candidate Kelvin Davis claimed to including left nationalism, excessive (i.e., politically conscious leaders) have made serious inroads, Mana still identity politics and parliamentarianism, cannot divert the movement from the managed to win the polling stations at they overlook the fact that this is a party path determined by the interaction of Kaitia Intermediate (where Davis was with a strong base amongst workers and environment and elements is to ignore headmaster) and Hoani Waititi (Pita oppressed and which includes many the simple truth that the conscious Sharples’ marae). activists motivated by socialist ideas. element participates in this interaction It is not surprising that Harawira’s What is striking about Mana’s and in the determination of the path. majority was slashed standing as a Mana activist base is that it is in large part Catholic and monarchist labour unions candidate, compared to standing as a female. These wāhine Māori have created in Europe are also an inevitable result Māori Party candidate. His former party, a parallel women’s movement based of the interaction of environment and whilst splitting from Labour, remained around struggles for Kōhanga Reo and elements, but it was the consciousness a part of the political establishment, Kura Kaupapa Māori. It is also far more of priests and Zubatovs [Colonel of the evidenced by the ease with which they inclusive than many other would-be Gendarmes] and not that of socialists allied with the Nats. Mana, however, progressive movements, embracing young that participated in this interaction”. represents a class break from the Māori and old, straight and takatāpui. (Iskra, 6 December 1901) party. Because of the low level of class In my short involvement in Mana, In other words, if revolutionaries consciousness, to say nothing of the class I have found it to be an open and want to see Mana develop in a differentiation within Te Tai Tokerau, the democratic party. Anyone is welcome revolutionary direction, they will have to appeal of Mana was always going to be to raise their views, providing they do involve themselves in it. limited. But the fact of its success means the hard yards in the campaign work.

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