Former Mana candidate goes up against Harawira

Mana Party Leader Hone Harawira is facing a new challenge in his Te Tai Tokerau seat at this year's election, from his party's former Te Tai Tonga candidate Clinton Dearlove.

Mr Dearlove announced last week on Facebook he was standing as an independent candidate in the electorate.

While Mr Harawira has thrown his party's lot in with Kim Dotcom's internet Party, in his announcement Mr Dearlove says many voters in Te Tai Tokerau didn't even have the internet.

"Recent events poltically have stirred the winds of interest on the upcoming election for Te Tai Tokerau. Our families, our hapu are unsure about where we are heading, confused and left wondering about what's really going on."

Mr Dearlove said that Labour's Kelvin Davis was likely to enter Parliament with a high place on Labour's party list, and with over $3 million in assistance from the internet Party at his disposal, Mr Harawira was also likely to get into Parliament as a list MP.

"So we will be running a Dearlove Get 3 campaign."

On that basis, if he was elected that would give Te Tai Tokerau three MPs in Parliament.

Mr Harawira declined to comment other than to say he wished Mr Dearlove well "unconditionally".