5 Aug 2014

Internet Mana takes aim at Labour

8:42 am on 5 August 2014

The Internet Mana roadshow rolled into the capital on Monday promising change and pulling no punches, with even the Labour Party in its sights.

Close to 300 people turned out for the event in central Wellington, a turnout noted by Mana's leader Hone Harawira, who couldn't resist a jab at Labour.

“I won't mention the party, but a big party that's in opposition at the moment launched their living wage policy the other week and had twenty people turn up.”

The two parties have an increasingly tense relationship.

Labour has left open the door to working with Internet Mana, but Labour leader David Cunliffe says it's unlikely it would form part of a formal coalition.

Other Labour MPs have openly criticised the way the Internet Party is trying to enter Parliament through Hone Harawira's Te Tai Tokerau electorate.

Internet Party leader Laila Harre was unapologetic, instead praising the generosity of Mr Harawira and Mana president Annette Sykes.

And in a message aimed at Labour, she said that while party was not going to support a National government, it would not support Labour to sign a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.