He Kawenata ki Waenga i Te Roopu MANA me Te Paati Māori

Te kawenata (the agreement/PDF),

The Executive of the MANA Movement and the National Executive for Maori Party have the power and authority to act on behalf of their respective parties in entering into this agreement.

Any and all contravening clauses/rules contained within existing party rules / constitutions / ture will be suspended for the duration of this agreement and replaced with the terms contained within this Kawenata and will conclude on September 23, 2017.

PRINCIPLES:

The MANA Movement and the Maori Party recognise the importance of showing unity through diversity and the strength that this arrangement provides for the betterment of the people we serve.
Through mutual respect and a commitment to build on the strengths each party possess, we sign this Kawenata to help us achieve the aspirations of both parties and more importantly Maori.

TERMS:

MANA confirm the decision made at its 2016 AGM, to focus on Te Tai Tokerau at the 2017 General Election, and to not stand candidates in the other 6 Maori seats (Tamaki Makaurau, Hauraki-Waikato, Waiariki, Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Te Tai Hauauru, Te Tai Tonga).
The Maori Party confirm their determination to stand candidates in those 6 Maori seats (Tamaki Makaurau, Hauraki-Waikato, Waiariki, Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Te Tai Hauauru, Te Tai Tonga) at the 2017 General Election, while agreeing to not stand a candidate in Te Tai Tokerau.
Both MANA and the Maori Party also agree to allow each party:
1. a) to develop, present and promote the policies they think most appropriate;
2. b) to campaign for the party vote;
3. c) to criticise policies, without attacking candidates.
This Kawenata will take effect on signing and remain in force until 5pm Sat 23 Sep 2017.

Press release from MANA,

“Been a long time coming, but it’s what the people have been calling for” said Lisa McNab, MANA President about the agreement that will see MANA and the Maori Party carry a strong mandate to win all seven Maori seats.

“Standing against one another only lets the party that stole our foreshore and seabed, steal our seats as well. We have to be better than that. Those seats belong to the Maori people, not to anyone else”

“Tuku came north last year to talk about how we might work together to bring those seats back to the Maori world, and ever since there’s been a real buzz in the Maori electorates” said McNab “From the race at Karapiro where MANA MAORI beat Labour easily to the delight of the crowd, to our going on to Ratana together, our taking a common stand at Waitangi, and out on the streets and in the maraes – the support has been awesome”

“Today’s arrangement formalises all of that.

“It allows MANA to focus on Te Tai Tokerau at the 2017 General Election, a decision we’d actually made at our AGM last year.

“And it adds weight to the Maori Party’s decision to stand candidates in the other 6 Maori seats (Tamaki Makaurau, Hauraki-Waikato, Waiariki, Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Te Tai Hauauru, Te Tai Tonga), and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.

“Both parties have agreed to not stand candidates against one another.

“And both parties will be free to develop the policies they think best; to campaign for the party vote; and to criticise one another’s policies without attacking each other’s candidates.

“We’ve got a big job ahead of us” said McNab “Things are even tougher now for our people than they were when Hone left, so we take nothing for granted.

“Last night’s Colmar-Brunton poll showing MANA registering in the ratings even though we’re not even in parliament yet was a pleasant surprise and public confirmation that MANA is back in the game.”

“That poll, coupled with the enthusiasm of the people and Hone’s track record, means we’re feeling really positive about 2017”

The Māori Party’s announcement,

The Māori Party and Mana Party have signed a historic agreement today to unite Māori politically.

Māori Party president Tukoroirangi Morgan said the kawenata or agreement was a huge step forward for Māori in the lead up to the general elections.

“Today is an important day for the Māori nation because today is when the country’s only two kaupapa Māori political parties unite to work tactically together in the best interests of our people,” says Mr Morgan.

“This kawenata is a genuine response to the undeniable and growing call from whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori organisations around the country to collectivise our efforts to reclaim all the seats from Labour.

“Māori disunity gifted the Māori seats to Labour in 2014 and it’s time for us to bring all the seats home to kaupapa Māori parties so we can hold the balance of power in Parliament and ensure a strong voice in government, regardless of which major party rules.”

The kawenata is underpinned by two principles: Recognising the importance of unity and having mutual respect for each other.

Under the terms of the kawenata, the Māori Party will not stand a candidate in the Tai Tokerau electorate and Mana Party will not stand candidates in the other six Māori electorates.

Both parties will campaign for the party vote. The kawenata ends when voting in the general elections has closed.

Since 2009, the Māori Party has delivered more than $1 billion in funding for initiatives that benefit Māori.

“Māori must ask themselves just what 80 years of allegiance to Labour has bought them. The alliance grew out of necessity but it did not stop the last Labour Government from legislating another raupatu or confiscation through the Foreshore and Seabed Act,” says Mr Morgan.

Signatories to the kawenata from the Māori Party are president Tukoroirangi Morgan, co-leaders Te Ururoa Flavell and Marama Fox as well as the Tai Tokerau Māori Party electorate representative, Hinurewa Te Hau. Mana Party will be represented by their president Lisa McNab, co-leader Hone Harawira and kaumatua Joe Everitt.

Media coverage,

RNZ

Exclusive interview: Hone Harawira on his comeback deal with the Maori Party (David Fisher ad The Herald)