Hone and Mana - become a leader with real mana...

Hone and Mana- become a leader with real mana...

Please view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O13SpVjePY


Well that was the easy part Hone Harawira. You have done all the talking, the big-mouthing and the audacious. You are no longer a Maori Party MP for the North - Te Tai Tokerau, but leader of the Mana Party. You now claim to be the representative of the poor and disadvantaged, Maori or Pakeha. Well there are just a few months to the general elections.  You took a margin of thousands and reduced it to hundreds. You now have real opposition in the form of Labour's Kelvin Davis, and you will be out of a job if you lose to him in November. If you win and win well, you could be joined by some compadres in the House of Representatives. You could also be a catalyst for change in government. Phil Goff said he won't work with you in a coalition, but if Goff found he could become prime minister,  he'll find some place on the front benches for the leader of Mana with some real mana?

Three time loser Hekia Parata replaces Wong minister

Image via Wikipedia Three time loser Hekia Parata relaces Wong minister. She is a National Party list member...

List MP Hekia Parata will replace Pansy Wong as Minister for Women's Affairs and Ethnic Affairs.

She will take over Wong's women's and ethnic affairs portfolios as well as the associate role for ACC, energy and resources. She will also be appointed an associate minister in the community and voluntary portfolio headed by Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia.

Parata was elected as a National list MP in 2008 and stood for the party in the Mana by-election last month where she reduced Labour's majority in the traditional red seat.

Key said her outstanding campaign in Mana was evidence of her competence and ability.


"Mrs Parata has a strong background in the public service and has also been a successful businesswoman.''
She will be a minister inside Cabinet.


Wong resigned from Cabinet after it was revealed she witnessed the signing of a contract for her husband's business while on a taxpayer-subsidised trip to China.


MPs and spouses accessing the subsidy are not allowed to undertake private business
.
An independent report into her use of the subsidy found she, and her husband Sammy, did not regularly misuse the travel allowance but should repay $474.12 for part of the trip to China, which  Wong was found guilty of misusing.

Prime Minister John Key today announced Parata would be sworn in as a Cabinet minister on Wednesday.

Whatever way you look at it,  Hekia Parata was a loser In the Mana by-election even if she reduced Labour's majority there; something that was expected anyway.

Related articles

• Audrey Young: Exit gives Key chance to promote Parata (nzherald.co.nz)
• ipredict picks Parata for Cabinet (homepaddock.wordpress.com)
• Parata's performance boosts Cabinet hopes (nzherald.co.nz)
• Mana throws up jubilant losers and defiant winners (nzherald.co.nz)
• Will it be the Hon Hekia Parata? (kiwiblog.co.nz)