Why Mana but not the Conservatives

The Conservative Party has released:

After accepting an invitation to the University of Auckland Debating Society’s debate late last year, the Conservative Party has just been informed, less than a week before the debate, that it will no longer be allowed to participate as there have been some “late inclusions!” Apparently, there are now nine speakers.

At the last election, the Conservative Party polled 5th highest, higher than Act, higher than the Maori Party, higher than Mana/Internet, higher than United Future, all of whom have representatives in the debate, so it cannot be our policies. And Mana are not in parliament.

UADS have the right to decide who to invite but it does seem bizarre that they invite Mana but no not invite the Conservatives, considering the Conservatives got almost four times as many votes as them.