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.[1] Annette is ranked third on the joint Internet Mana list for the New Zealand general election, 2014.[2]
Biography
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[3] but became a prominent member of the Mana Party in 2011.[4] She was listed second on the Mana Party list for the 2011 election,[5] as well as standing in the Waiariki electorate.[6]
Work and reaction
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.[7] She has also been an outspoken supporter of controversial figures in Māori politics such as Titewhai Harawira which has earned her much criticism.[8]
Sykes was lawyer to high-profile activist Tame Iti[9] who was convicted of charges in relation to the 2007 New Zealand anti-terror raids.
References
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- Living people
- New Zealand lawyers
- New Zealand Māori lawyers
- People from Rotorua
- Māori activists
- University of Auckland alumni
- Māori Party politicians
- Mana Movement politicians
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 2011
- Unsuccessful candidates in the New Zealand general election, 2014
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- Bruce Jesson Memorial lecturers
