Annette Sykes

Annette Te Imaima Sykes (born c.1961) is a Rotorua activist and lawyer who fights for the rights of Māori tribes to be self-governing. Annette was ranked third on the joint Internet Mana list for the New Zealand general election, 2014.

Sykes is of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Makino descent, two of the confederated tribes of Te Arawa waka, along with some Poaka (British) descent.

Sykes is a graduate of University of Auckland and has been practising as a lawyer since 1984. She is a consultant for law firm Kathy Ertel and Co. Sykes is a human rights lawyer specialising in the rights of indigenous peoples to promote their own systems of law.

Sykes is an advocate for Māori independence and a nuclear free, genetic engineering free independent Pacific. She was a Māori Party member but became a prominent member of the Mana Party in 2011. She was listed second on the Mana Party list for the 2011 election, as well as standing in the Waiariki electorate.

Sykes has been heavily criticised for her work regarding Māori independence, having received death threats and bullets in her letterbox in retaliation for her work. She has also been an outspoken supporter of controversial figures in Māori politics such as Titewhai Harawira which has earned her much criticism.

Sykes was lawyer to high-profile activist Tame Iti who was convicted of charges in relation to the 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids.

...
Wikipedia