Sykes confirms Mana role: 'Free school meals' | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua lawyer and prominent Maori activist Annette Sykes has officially announced she will be contesting the Waiariki electorate for the Mana Party.

The party made the announcement yesterday at the official campaign launch at Otaramarae Marae at Lake Rotoiti.

Attending the event were 150 people, including children from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rotoiti who cheered Ms Sykes when she announced their education policies which included "free lunches, free breakfast and a swimming pool for every school".

Ms Sykes, who is also the co-vice president of the party, said it was a great response from the group of mainly 5-year-olds. "That's great they understand it since the mental age of those in Parliament is about 5-years-old as well."

Ms Sykes said it was only right that she should launch her campaign from her marae. "My uncle said to bring it home."

Also launched on the day were two websites: annettesykes.com and votewaiariki.com which she said signalled the Mana Party would be fully utilising social media and networks in their election campaign.

Ms Sykes also announced the Mana Party would stand candidates in five of the general seats in the Bay of Plenty/East Coast area; Taupo, Rotorua, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and East Cape. Of the five, she is particularly confident the party has a chance in East Coast against National MP Ann Tolley. Their candidate for East Cape is Val Irwin and she said the Mana Party would be campaigning hard.

She said the Tauranga electorate would be quite interesting with three Maori contesting the seat; Brandon Horan (NZ First), National's Simon Bridges and for Mana, Jason Gardiner would be the candidate. The Mana Party Rotorua candidate is yet to be named, but Keriana Reedy from Murupara will be contesting the Taupo electorate.

Ms Sykes said there was a strategic effort to campaign for the party vote and said Maori voters made up a significant number in both the Taupo and Rotorua general seats.