2001 Mana Motuhake leadership election
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The Mana Motuhake leadership election, 2001 was held in
Background
Members of Mana Motuhake were having growing concerns about the Labour-Alliance coalition government's Māori policies and were seriously considering leaving the Alliance (an umbrella party of 5 smaller parties including Mana Motuhake) as a result. Party members were also concerned that Mana Motuhake's identity was becoming subsumed by the Alliance.[1] This led to internal debate around the direction the party was being led, eventually leading Willie Jackson to challenge Sandra Lee for the leadership of the party.
A vote was the first item of business at the party's 2001 annual meeting held in Māngere, South Auckland. After initiating the challenge, Jackson had invited Lee to withdraw her name from the ballot, but she decided against it forcing a ballot from party delegates.[2]
Candidates
Sandra Lee
Lee had been an MP since
Willie Jackson
Jackson, a List MP since
Result
The following table gives the delegate ballot results:[4]
| Name | Votes | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Jackson | 109 | 75.69% | |
| Sandra Lee | 35 | 24.31% |
Supporters of Lee later raised questions about the validity of the vote citing concerns over two busloads of "strangers" that were brought in. The claims were refuted by Jackson who labeled the suggestion as "nonsense".[5]
Aftermath
After his victory was announced, Jackson promised to expel life member Nellie Rata (widow of Matiu Rata) for defecting to ACT and pledged to ask Labour to stand aside for Mana Motuhake in at least one Māori seat at the next election in 2002, a scenario that Labour leader Helen Clark refused to do stating that Labour dealt with the Alliance, not Mana Motuhake.[4] Jackson also affirmed to the media that he had no intention of leading Mana Motuhake away from either the Alliance or the coalition Government.[2]
Lee said that her duties as Alliance Deputy Leader and as a cabinet minister allowed her less time to devote to Mana Motuhake's activities and organisational matters which counted against her in the ballot. She stated "Unfortunately, I didn't have the numbers on the day and that's politics in a democracy" and also pledged to continue ensuring Mana Motuhake's committal to continuing an active role within the coalition government.[2]
Alliance leader Jim Anderton publicly voiced his support for Lee, saying "it was Ms Lee's patience and long-term view which had got Mana Motuhake into government".[6]
References
- ^ Berry, Ruth (10 October 2000). "Mana Motuhake concerned". The Evening Post. p. 2.
- ^ a b c d "Lee dumped as Mana Motuhake leader". The Press. 4 June 2001. p. 9.
- ^ Young, Audrey (24 August 2001). "Sandra Lee - bad news and proud of it". NZ Herald. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ a b c Venter, Nick (11 June 2001). "Joy turns to humiliation for new Mana Motuhake leader". The Southland Times. p. 2.
- ^ Berry, Ruth (8 June 2001). "Lee supporters cast doubts over vote". The Evening Post. p. 17.
- ^ "Anderton backs Lee". Waikato Times. 6 June 2001. p. 2.