13 Dec 2014

No regrets over Internet Mana alliance

5:21 pm on 13 December 2014

A senior Mana Party official says he has no regrets about its alliance with the Internet Party going into this year's general election.

John Minto at the podium with Mana Party leader Hone Harawira.

John Minto at the podium with Mana Party leader Hone Harawira during the election. Photo: RNZ

The alliance won no seats and had now been formally dissolved.

Mana's co-vice president John Minto said the party went into the arrangement with open eyes and he was proud it took a big gamble.

"We knew it was a big risk, but it was a risk we were prepared to take."

He said he did not think Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom poisoned the alliance but it was swamped with negative publicity around Mr Dotcom in the last week of the campaign.

The initial deal included a review clause for six weeks after the election and both parties had agreed to stop working together.

A letter had been sent to the Electoral Commission and the Internet Mana name would cease to exist.

Kim Dotcom.

Kim Dotcom. Photo: RNZ

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