Meanwhile, the decision on whether the parties will unite in the fight for parliamentary seats at the September 20 general election is on hold.
As party president Rotorua lawyer Annette Sykes predicted, electorate representatives voted to take the proposed alliance back to grassroots members for their views.
This could take at least a month. Rotorua hui delegates were among those who favoured further consultation.
A gag on them speaking to the media meant none were prepared to put their names to their views but several told The Daily Post more talking was needed before any deal was signed and sealed.
"I think it [an alliance] could work but it needs a lot more thought, it's very rare for a wealthy man to make the transition to being able to understand poverty," one unnamed old hand in political parties' tactics said.
His view was that Mr Dotcom had been well briefed on what Mana members would want to hear.
Another said he remained undecided but could be persuaded to favour joining forces if it meant Mana would get more than its present sole MP, leader Hone Harawira, into parliament.
Well-known Rotorua activist Bernie Hornfeck was among those to query Mr Dotcom on the parties finding common ground.
"What's in it for us?" he demanded.
The Mega Upload founder currently facing extradition to the US, hit back with "technological visibility".
"This is something I can contribute, I have managed to achieve it and it's the way to move Mana closer to all New Zealanders, to stop it [Mana] been only seen as a radical movement," he responded.
Mr Dotcom assured Mr Hornfeck that fair-minded New Zealanders had nothing to fear from him. He used his address to champion a number of Mana-favoured causes including social fairness, anti-fracking, taxing the rich and abolishing student loans.
Speaking of his own impoverished childhood he told how his mother had been forced to work three jobs to keep food on the family table.
"I grew up on a diet which often consisted of toast and sugar or toast and ketchup."
He confided his family had spent a lot of time in the cellar sheltering from the wrath of an alcoholic father.
It was this background that had led him to make a success of his life.
"Perhaps I have gone a too far," he said to laughter. "But I have always kept social fairness in mind ... the need for our kids to be fed. I support everything that makes social sense."
