MANA Name Change

MANA Leader and Tai Tokerau MP, Hone Harawira

14 August 2014

On the 24th of July the ‘Mana’ party name was officially changed to ‘MANA Movement’ under the Electoral Act 1993.

The inclusion of the word ‘Movement’ in our name shouldn't come as a surprise to those who have watched MANA grow. Our focus has always been deeper than just what happens in parliament.

Although we are young, the MANA Movement has been prominent in its support for people fighting for social and economic justice from Kaikohe to Kawerau. We have stood alongside state house tenants from Otangarei to Glenn Innes and Pomare, and supported innovative new housing options from Ahipara to Christchurch.

We have helped feed locked-out freezing workers from Moerewa to Feilding. We continue to support communities resisting booze shops in Mangere and pokies in Otara. We have joined with tangata whenua protecting our seas from deep sea oil spills from the Far North to Whanau-a-Apanui, and fighting to keep toxic mining out of their lands from Whakapara to Tarawera.

And we have done it while continuing to develop clear and simple policies to reduce the crippling levels of poverty sweeping the nation - policies like Feeding the Kids, building 10,000 state houses every year until the crisis in homelessness is over, community work for everyone able to work, free tertiary education … and taxing the super-rich to do it all.

And we continue to do it while many of our people hold down jobs as kaiako, social workers, farmers, fishermen, office workers, unionists and kohanga reo whanau.

The MANA Movement will always be bigger than just a parliamentary political party. We are and we will always be, first of all, a movement of the people.

I would appreciate it if from now on when referring to the MANA Movement in the media, the correct name ‘MANA Movement’ or the word ‘MANA’ in its capital letter form is used. The use of the word ‘party’ is redundant and inaccurate.

ENDS

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