Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Mana candidate says young and old behind decision to stand

Updated at 8:07 pm on 17 October 2011

The Mana Party's candidate for Hauraki-Waikato, Angelina Greensill, says young and old voters prompted her to contest the seat after she quit the Maori Party.

She says kuia or female elders and rangatahi (young people) in Ngaruawahia asked her to stand.

Ms Greensill says a $16 minimum wage, fighting land asset sales, and taking GST off food are among her top policies.

The marginal Hauraki-Waikato Maori seat is held by Labour and will also be challenged by the Maori Party.

Ms Greensill, who is a lecturer at the University of Waikato, joined the Mana Party from the Maori Party, saying the latter has lost touch with tangata whenua.

She says the Maori Party is not listening to the people and has lost contact with the grass roots.

She says she is also disappointed with the direction the Maori Party has taken on the emissions trading scheme, the Marine and Coastal Bill, and getting far too close to the National Government.

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