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Mana's one-man-army 'ineffectual'

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Mon, 28 Nov 2011 7:37a.m.

Hone Harawira

Hone Harawira

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira is preparing for a lonely three years in Parliament.

He beat off strong challenges from Labour's Kelvin Davis and the Maori Party's Waihoroi Shortland to retain the far north Te Tai Tokerau electorate.

However Auckland University's Maori Affairs academic Dr Paul Moon says voters may have to weigh up doubts about exactly how much Harawira will be able to achieve.

"He's a great guy, very forthright, but unfortunately completely ineffectual," says Dr Moon. "Just about everyone else in Parliament has ruled out working with him, so what's the point in having him as an MP?"

Mana only got 1 percent of the party vote on Saturday.

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Comments

20 Dec 2011 02:46p.m.

ian wrote:

Unfortunately at this time,the more "Hone" says the less people will listen or take take notice.He needs to grow and develop some of the statesman like qualities that the leaders of the Maori Party now exhibit. Hone is presently more like a teenage boy not knowing how to deal with an erection in a pubic place.

01 Dec 2011 01:25p.m.

Wahanui wrote:

You guys Mike Chris etc are so yesterday, and you Henry its not Hone that has the mana to take its Hone that has the Mana to recieve and that is from forward clear thinking Maori like me.It seems dumb to vote for parties that dont care,sort of dont care and those that use Maori for their own existence .Go Hone Go the People Mana -UP!!!

28 Nov 2011 04:57p.m.

Peter wrote:

I think Hone may have had intentions to put Maori back twenty years for sinister reasons or self gratification. Certainly looks that way as he has virtually destroyed the Maori party by splitting the vote. What the heck is wrong with you Maori who voted for him!! Do you not understand how voting works?? Personally I think Hone has been very greedy by considering his position before Maori's first. Because of what he has done now the Maori party has very little leverage in Parliament and Hone has none. Wake up next time you vote!!!

28 Nov 2011 12:51p.m.

Rawiri wrote:

Get over yourself Mike, Unlike you, Hone is worth listening to and by the way he is home, he dosn't squat on stolen land. Something tells me you do.

28 Nov 2011 12:42p.m.

George wrote:

Welcome to the Harawera,Minto,Bradford club... all new members MUST have size three hats and size twelve shoes,OHH and be on a benefit for two years.

28 Nov 2011 12:36p.m.

Bruce wrote:

Its going to be interesting to see where the maori party will go. If they provide too much support to the National Government, then i would say the Maori vote in 2014 will drop even more and give Mana more support. The Maori voter are traditionally Labour voters. Its obvious this is where the Mana vote came from. 2014 could see a growing Mana support.

28 Nov 2011 12:29p.m.

Henare Willis wrote:

In the voters' eyes Hone and his strange combination of malcontents have virtually nil mana. Bad choice of name for the party.

28 Nov 2011 11:17a.m.

chris01 wrote:

Harawira is dumb if he thinks he is going to benefit Maori. The Maori Party is good for Maori and a great platform for Maori to build on... all Harawira has done is split the Maori vote to the detriment of Maori. The Maori party's association with National showed the level of political pragmatism required in an MMP environment and was in no way a sell out. Patience and collaboration will do more to further Maori aspirations than the populist and emotional strategy Harawira has chosen. The saying 'Slowly, slowly, catchee moneky' springs to mind. Besides it is my understanding that National has done more for Maori than Labour, so maybe Maori need to revisit that instinctive, reflexive action to hate everything or anything National.

28 Nov 2011 08:14a.m.

Mike wrote:

Go home Hone. Even the kids are laughing at you. Also need to explain to you that Winston got close to 7% compared to your 1%. So therefore YOU are not competition!!!!