Rotorua's Annette Sykes in top Mana Party role

Rotorua lawyer and Maori activist Annette Sykes has been named Mana Party co-vice president.

Ms Sykes joined Hone Harawira's fledgling political party after he left the Maori Party and stood for re-election in the Tai Tokerau electorate.

She told The Daily Post she had been working hard in the background, developing policies for the new party's election campaign.

The party decided to back up party president Matt McCarten with two vice presidents - herself and veteran activist John Minto.

She said the party would be holding its first annual meeting in Auckland tomorrow.

"Process is a very important for Hone," Ms Sykes said.

"He wants us all to have a clear understanding of the processes, especially those for the selection of candidates."

Ms Sykes said Mana should not be seen as a party full of activists instead of politicians.

"What was Nelson Mandela or Gandhi or Martin Luther King? They were deeply passionate people who confronted the state over injustices happening to their people. We are not the exception, we are the norm."

Ms Sykes said the last two Labour Party leaders - Helen Clark and Phil Goff - were both renowned activists before becoming full-time politicians.

Support for the Mana Party in the Waiariki electorate was growing with branches already set up in Rotorua, Tauranga, Opotiki, Whakatane and even Waikaremoana.

Meanwhile, the newly formed Conservative Party is also looking to stand candidates in every electorate in New Zealand, including Rotorua.

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig said it was his intention to have a candidate stand in all of the country's electorates for the November 26 general election and referendum. "We'll be appointing candidates as we go, we can't guarantee we will get a suitable candidate for Rotorua but we are looking," he said.

Mr Craig said anyone interested in joining the Conservative Party should check out the website www.conservativeparty.org.nz.