the name "mana wahine te ira tangata" is difficult to translate, but essentially refers to dignity or respect for women. kopu claims that the party was intended to support māori women, promoting a māori form of feminism. critics of alamein kopu, however, did not see the party as a genuine ideological organization. rather, they saw a more cynical reason for the party's creation – as leader of a party rather than an independent, kopu was entitled to $80,000 in additional funding. jim anderton, leader of kopu's former party, said that the creation of mana wahine approached corruption, a sentiment which was echoed by several other politicians.