Elections 2014 will witness the debut of Internet Party founded by German billionaire Kim Dotcom.
With former Alliance Party Leader Laila Harre as its President, the Internet Party wants to see the incumbent Government defeated and a Centre-Left Coalition installed.
It has entered into an alliance with Mana Party and its Leader Hone Harawira.
The Internet Mana Party alliance, with $3 million pledged by Kim Dotcom, will try to maximise Party votes in its bid to capture some seats in Parliament.
It is also concentrating on the youth power.
Lacking clarity
The biggest challenge facing the Party is lack of clarity on major issues. It talks about curbing the intrusive powers of the intelligence agencies. While people are concerned about the level of state interference in their personal lives, it may not be the deciding factor in an election.
The most important issue for a majority of New Zealanders is the state of the economy.
The Alliance has not spelt out its policies on jobs creation and solutions to the housing crisis in Auckland.
The Mana Party is also facing a stern challenge from Labour in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate and hence must convince supporters that this Alliance would be beneficial to all New Zealanders and that it is not a marriage of convenience.
Party purpose
Ms Harre must explain the need for the Internet Party, its aims and objectives.
The public mind is fresh with the following developments:
(a) Dotcom is facing extradition charges in US for his alleged involvement in global piracy and money laundering conspiracy (b) New Zealand Police and FBI agents raided his Auckland mansion in 2012 (c) The Government Communications Security Bureau (GSCB) spied on Dotcom, which he said was illegal since he is a permanent resident
It would be interesting to see how Labour Party would perceive this Alliance for its own benefit. It hopes to lead a Coalition Government after the general election on September 20, 2014 but has expressed its discomfort at the coat-tailing component of MMP, which the Internet Party seeks to use to enter Parliament.
The Internet Mana coalition has less than 100 days to convince the electorate of its policies and programmes.
