June 16, 2017
Opportunity gives voice to Mika
Performer and community worker Mika X can now add opportunist to his titles, with his confirmation as The Opportunities Party candidate for Auckland Central.
Mika, whose Mika Haka Foundation uses performing arts and physical culture in youth work, says The Opportunities Party is a kindred soul in his quest to unashamedly promote opportunities for young people of all ages and differences.
He says he has been approached by political parties in the past who wanted to use his profile rather than genuinely allow him to have a voice.
Party founder Gareth Morgan says Mika will have a big role in communicating The Opportunities Party youth policy when it is released next month.
Meanwhile, the Maori Party looks set to name Mei Taare as its candidate in Te Tai Tonga.
The party had been chasing former Ngai Tahu kaiwhakaere Ta Mark Solomon, despite his public rejection of the offer.
Wellington-based Ms Taare, the daughter of former Maori Affairs her Sir Tamati Reedy, is om the board of Te Runanga o Ngati Porou.
The former television journalist spent 10 years in the United States as a senior public affairs officer at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, and she also stood as Labour’s Bay of Plenty candidate in 2002.
Te Tai Tonga is held by Labour’s Rino Tirikatene with a margin of 3554 votes.
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