Minto on Mana Party and opposing Brash

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Minto on Mana Party and opposing Brash

3News NZ

John Minto has previously turned down three offers to join political parties

John Minto has previously turned down three offers to join political parties

As Hone Harawira's Mana Party starts to take shape, the latest name to be associated with the party is veteran activist John Minto.

Mr Harawira has confirmed that he will be inviting Mr Minto to join the Mana Party for the general election.

The political activist spoke about the Mana Party’s policies, direction, and whether or not he’ll be joining on Firstline this morning.

He has previously turned down three offers to join political parties and despite being unsure whether political activists can be more effective inside or outside Parliament he does support the Mana Party’s policies.

“The policies they're pushing... are policies that would be great for me and for my kids and my grandchildren, whereas I think the policies being pushed by Don Brash and the National party are going to destroy opportunities for our kids in the future.”

Mr Minto says he doesn’t believe the Mana Party is just for Maori, saying that while it represents Maori it “actually has the values that I think a big chunk of New Zealanders would support”.

A longtime friend of Mr Harawira, Mr Minto says the Mana Party leader does have a “really brash side to him”, but is what working class New Zealanders need.

“I think that with Hone there, every working New Zealander and their family should be proud that here is someone that is leading a party that's really going to defend their rights... and push forward to get a better deal for working families.”

If Mr Minto does decide to join the Mana Party for the November election, he will represent New Zealand’s low and middle wage earners.

“We’ve got a resurgent Don Brash with a massive amount of money behind him pushing this ACT political line which will send… low and middle income earners even further backwards than before,” he said.

“I really think New Zealanders have to stand up and fight this one.”

Watch the video for the full interview

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Comments

23/10/2011 5:32:15 p.m.

Hit the nail on Atrouts head wrote:

wow atrout there's a lot of hatred in you ... is that hereditary? or is it instinctive in you to oppress pro Maori self determination actions? If so wouldn't that be seen as perpetual abuse towards those you obviously see as not fitting into your transplanted ideology of civil society. By chance, would that make you a racist?

23/05/2011 1:37:22 p.m.

Glen wrote:

@ atrout - I love your redneck attacks!! Comical and entertaining. Make sure those Maowrees stay down on the ground. Hail the white man!! Hehe.

22/05/2011 3:36:46 p.m.

atrout wrote:

Hey Uts, why don't you do even better- actually run for the Mana Party. That way you'd provide everyone a lot of entertainment. Far better than believing that you are going to annoy some rednecks because you won't succeed in that for sure!! Expand on your delusion and imagine that you might even get to Parliament... you'd be right in your comfort space with a group of nutbars and racists.

21/05/2011 3:44:31 p.m.

Uts wrote:

As a pakeha i'm looking forward to voting for the mana party and causing some rednecks a great deal of frustration.

21/05/2011 1:17:05 a.m.

Dan wrote:

Sweet, time to break out the old minto-bar

17/05/2011 10:48:42 p.m.

Greg wrote:

when I first heard Hone Harawera , I was unable to understand his ideas & polices clearly. Now after watching events and poltical debates over the last 6 months . I feel differently about him and what he stands for. Hone Harawera may have a strong voice that sometimes comes across as over the top but if we judged ourselves like we judge him we would be a pretty narrow minded bunch of individuals . I am happy to say I support Hone and the people like John Minto that are now making Mana make sense . If Labour is unable to resurect a vote for poor , I think Mana will be a more than able substitue . I look forward to the party's launch and the polices and commitment that it will bring .

17/05/2011 7:00:56 p.m.

Laura wrote:

@Toberone: just because a person is against Israeli policies, does not make them anti-semetic. In fact, if you were for Israeli policies that would be a better label for you, as you would be supporting the death, destruction and displacement of Palestinians (semetics). Get with the times. Read the news. And stop feeding into this frenzy of anti-semetism in order to silence people.

17/05/2011 6:49:53 a.m.

murphy wrote:

hone you are a racist and you need to go. you are a drain on us as new zealander and a total waist of time we as new zealanders don`t need people like you so sod off and craw back to your hole,

16/05/2011 9:49:31 p.m.

Visitor wrote:

Minto is a good man and will, if he runs, be as good a force as can be hoped for in in NZ Parliament.

16/05/2011 9:04:02 p.m.

Wills wrote:

I agree that Maori and the poor continue to get the raw end of the deal by the govt but giving these two power is only going to make the pendulum swing the other way. In saying that though if it was a choice between them and Brash I'd choose Mana hands down.