Rotorua's Annette Sykes has been reconfirmed as the co-vice-president of the MANA movement.
The 2015 national executive was confirmed at its AGM over the weekend.
"We had our AGM over the weekend and I was blown away by the resilience of our crew, their inventiveness and their courage in helping
drive the campaigns that are involved in all round the country," said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira.
"Since the election MANA members have played critical roles in the 'End Zero Hours' campaign, action against the sale of state houses, fighting the war on the poor, starting small businesses, feed the kids initiatives, and a whole host of other activities.
"And that's what makes MANA so special. Having an MP helps but it's clearly not the sole purpose for MANA and that's why I love being part of this Movement.
"We had speakers from right across the political spectrum talking to us about issues as diverse as te reo Maori, the foolishness of war, the cost of poverty, the vicious attacks on the people living in the Gaza strip, the Ture Whenua Maori Act, and innovative housing designs.
"We had strong women speakers, Pasifika, Pakeha, kaumatua and kuia, and some really awesome rangatahi as well and I feel really positive about MANA's future in their hands.
"We had a range of speakers talk to us about the use and value of social media.
"We heard about how $600 million will refurbish half of all state houses in Aotearoa, but how government was more likely to spend that money on two planes for the air-force.
"We heard about the successful campaign led by Unite Union to 'End Zero Hours' and bring an end to fast food outlet's plans to drive workers into poverty.
"Speakers talked about how the new Te Ture Whenua M?ori Act was nothing more than a modern day land confiscation and what steps we might take to protect Maori land.
"We heard about the latest developments in the campaign to stop the TPPA, and we passed a motion to support putting the case before the Waitangi Tribunal.
"We had Reo Maori graduates outlining the ongoing value of Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura schooling for Maori youth; kuia talking about the ongoing threats to the reo despite all the hard work in Kohanga Reo; and we also heard from Labour MP Peeni Henare who added his voice to the call from MANA to make Maori compulsory in all schools.
"We heard from MANA Pasifika about using different language media to reach a huge audience who were likely to be receptive to MANA kaupapa.
"We heard from a range of speakers including a lecturer in engineering, a project manager in whareuku construction and an intern in earthship technology outline new and innovative house building techniques, a strong presentation from the Social Housing Action Network, and the tabling of a motion for rent controls to stop landlords ripping people off."
He said they also reconfirmed the National Executive for 2015.
? Hone Harawira - Kaiarahi o Te Ropu Mana (Leader)
? Lisa McNab - Tumuaki (President)
? Annette Sykes & John Minto - Tumuaki Tautoko (Vice-Presidents)
? Carol Hata - Kaitiaki P?tea (Treasurer)
? Andrew Paul (Secretary)
"And because we've got so much going on, we decided to hold a strategic planning hui in a couple of months to properly map out the next five years, and I'm looking forward to us taking all of the positive energy from our AGM and putting it into some constructive steps in the lead-up to the next election and on to 2020 as well.
"As for me - well, I've just been focussed mainly on Tai Tokerau stuff since the election" said Mr Harawira.
"Starting industry courses, rebuilding rugby league, helping kura deal with difficulties, trying to get funding for our kaumatua and kuia and support for some of the tougher communities in Northland, starting a prisoner support programme, building support for a water claim to the Supreme Court, restarting a couple of work trusts that have languished over the past few years and helping out at our local kura.
"I've also done a bit of media work, been to South Africa to help build an indigenous network as part of the global civil societies movement, and to Australia to support to 'Stop the closure of remote Aboriginal communities' campaign. And I co-hosted a Pacific preparatory conference prior to the United Nations Peoples Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.
"So I've been busy as but that's the life of a MANA activist, and it's only gonna get busier from here on out ... and just to keep things bubbling over, I have plans on being back in parliament in 2017," Mr Harawira said.
