May 06, 2013
Raihania ready to run in Ikaroa-Rawhiti
The Maori Party candidate in the last election says he feels duty bound to put his name forward for the by-election brought on by the death of Parekura Horomia.
The Ikaroa Rawhiti MP was buried on Saturday.
Na Raihania came in second in 2011, 5924 votes behind Mr Horomia.
He says it was a gentlemanly campaign where he felt he was being mentored by his cousin.
“It was because of his profile and because he was such a likeable fellow. I made a very firm commitment not to bag him during the campaign because he had earned his spot. I just didn’t think that a Pākehā type of political campaign was the right place or any place to tear a man down, who obviously put his heart and soul into the passion for his people,” he says.
Na Raihania says the earliest a by-election could be held would be the end of June.
Parliament today will start with a special poroporoaki session so his former colleagues can pay tribute to Parekura Horomia, who held the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti seat for Labour for 11 years.
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