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Mana president Annette Sykes says the party will be able to sustain the loss of Matt McCarten to Labour.
The former Unite Union head was the party’s inaugural president and has been part of the inner leadership, even though he didn’t hold a formal position.
Ms Sykes welcomed the appointment of Mr McCarten as chief of staff to Labour leader David Cunliffe, and says it’s great to have someone who is committed to the same broad goals as Mana in that position.
She says while Mana may miss some of his strategic advice for this year’s election, party leader Hone Harawira can still call on the likes of former Green MP Sue Bradford and John Minto.
"I think we’re lucky that we have a leadership group both in Maori and in Pakeha terms that we can call on and I'm sure that while Matt leaves a space, I don’t think he leaves a vacuum," she says.
Ms Sykes says the positive relationship Matt McCarten already has with Mana and the Greens will help to build a strong and united coalition of the left to change the government.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ANNETTE SYKES CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTU3OTA=
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