Mana Party's Hone Harawira. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has thrown down the gauntlet to his former colleagues in the Maori Party, confirming Mana will contest all seven of the Maori seats at the November election.
Mr Harawira announced the decision after Mana's first annual meeting in Auckland on Saturday.
"Maori from right throughout
the country are walking away in droves from those who partner up with the parties of the rich," he said in a thinly veiled reference to the Maori Party, which expelled him this year after he criticised its close relationship with National.
"[Maori are] signalling that they want the strong and independent leadership in Parliament that Mana represents, the kind of leadership that will generate the change that Maori want."
Mr Harawira also fired a warning shot at Phil Goff's party by indicating it would stand in traditionally Labour electorates.
