Kopu 'not unhappy' with party's failure

By STACEY BODGER

ROTORUA - Ousted party-hopping MP Alamein Kopu says she is happy at her result as the country's lowest-polling party leader - but the reason is secret.

The Rotorua great-grandmother was on the dole before entering Parliament after the last election on the Alliance list.

After quitting the party and becoming an Independent MP, Mrs Kopu launched her own party, Mana Wahine, in May.

Parliamentary recognition of the party saw Mrs Kopu's $80,000 salary boosted by $4900 and the party was granted an extra $77,186 a year for research and office expenses.

At Saturday's election, Mana Wahine was ineligible to receive party votes because its officials missed the deadline to register for inclusion on the ballot paper.

Its handful of electorate candidates attracted only 878 votes, including the 244 Mrs Kopu received in the Maori electorate of Waiariki.

Yesterday, Mrs Kopu told the Herald that Mana Wahine had "achieved something and proved a big point," although she declined to explain further, saying it was "for me to know."

"We're not unhappy with any results because we have brought out the truth and proved ourselves to everyone," Mrs Kopu said.

She was reluctant to reveal the future of her political career, or her party's future.

"My plans are my business and none of you media's business or anyone else's.

"I'll tell you what. How about none of you ever ring me again until I ring you?" Mrs Kopu said.

Parliamentary Service salaries spokeswoman Agnes Sio'atoa said that, as with all defeated MPs, Mrs Kopu would continue to draw her salary for three months.