Internet Mana Road Trip Packing a Positive Punch

Packed houses and positivity – Internet MANA’s national road trip has launched with a bang and there’s much more to come.

More than 600 people packed townhall meetings in Kaitaia and Kaikohe, on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, to hear Internet MANA officials including leader Hone Harawira, Internet Party leader Laila Harré and Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom outline the new alliance’s bold vision for a better Aotearoa New Zealand for all Kiwis.

“Even at our marae visits, the response had been overwhelmingly positive,” said Mr Harawira, MP for Te Tai Tokerau. “Everybody’s got a burning desire to be part of what we’re doing. We’ve had hundreds of sign-ups in the past few days. Everywhere we go people want to know what Internet MANA is doing and how we’re going to change the government. There’s real energy behind this movement.”

The turnout for the meetings in Kaitaia and Kaikohe, with more than 300 people each night, was impressive.

“Even our older people, Maori and Pakeha, are saying they’ve never seen townhalls packed like this for political meetings,” said Mr Harawira. “In the past people have been bored, disengaged, but not this year.”

Of major interest to constituents was how the Internet MANA alliance would work for the good of New Zealand.

“There hasn’t been a single criticism of what we’re doing. The great thing about this road trip is that it’s allowing us to answer the questions that people have in their minds. A lot of people had reservations but they came, they heard, they’ve been won over. It’s been wonderful.

“But the important part about this road trip is that it’s encouraging people to come along and listen. When they hear about what we’re doing they say, ‘that’s where I want to be, that’s where I want my kids to be, where I want my mokopuna to be’.”

Ms Harré said the big response so far was a positive sign for the rest of the national road trip.

“The really clear message from people is that they want to see change, a positive change that will improve the lives of all New Zealanders, not just the select few. Our purpose has always been to give people the chance to be heard and to let them know that their opinions, concerns and ideas are valued and important.”

The road trip continues with a townhall meeting in Kerikeri tonight before a big day of events and a townhall meeting in Whangarei tomorrow. The northern leg of the road trip wraps up in Kelston in Auckland on Sunday before a short break for the Internet Party’s national music tour – the Party Party from July 23-26 .

Internet MANA then hits the road again in the Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui and Wellington.

Tuesday, July 29

Rotorua

Distinction Hotel, 390 Fenton Street

6pm

Wednesday, July 30

Hamilton

Waikato University, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Lecture Theatre

6pm

Thursday, July 31

New Plymouth

New Plymouth Boys’ High School

6pm

Saturday, August 2

Whanganui

War Memorial Conference Centre

2pm

Sunday, August 3

Ratana

Church Service, Waipounamu St

11am

Palmerston North

Convention Centre

2pm

Monday, August 4

Wellington

Mac’s Function Centre

6pm

ENDS

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