Jevan Goulter After being inspired by a speech from Hone Harawira, Jevan Goulter has announced he is joining the yet-to-be-registered Mana Party. The failed Whanganui mayoral candidate, musician and beauty pageant spokesman, who has maintained a high-profile in the gay community for a litany of reasons, attended a gathering at the Auckland University Marae where Harawira spoke last night. After his tense split with the Maori Party Harawira is forming the left-wing Mana Party, and is bidding for re-election in the Te Tai Tokerau seat after resigning from Parliament to get a 'mandate from his people'. Polls suggest he has a strong chance of not only winning the seat back, but also retaining it at the General Election and bringing his party into Parliament. Goulter says Harawira is often portrayed in the media as being racist or a lunatic. "Listening to Hone speak leaves you with a few different impressions. He is very articulate, vocal and clear with his messages, always ready with an answer and always prepared to let people speak their mind," he says. "I went along to Auckland University in order to hear about the party, see what it was about and hear Hone speak and what he had to say. After doing so I can proudly say that I will be joining the Mana Party and even offering my services in doing whatever I can to help spread the word, build the foundations of the party and let the people know that there is a better alternative to represent the change we want to see in our lifestyles, that is the Mana Party." Goulter lists the Mana Party's aim to bridge that widening gap between the rich and the poor while also representing those who are overlooked in our society as key reasons he is joining. The Mana Party has just applied to be registered, and may not be so by the by-election on 25 June.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 13th May 2011 - 5:19pm