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There’s frantic activity in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti as Labour, the Māori Party and Mana scramble to line up their candidates to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Labour MP Parekura Horomia.
Māori Party Co-leader Pita Sharples says he has been talking to iwi leaders and party branches about who should fly the party flag.
Contenders so far include Na Raihania, who lost to Mr Horomia by 6541 votes in 2011, and former television broadcaster Te Rangihau Gilbert.
Dr Sharples says the party believes it can win the seat with the right candidate.
"Parekura, while he was Labour and while there is a lot of emotion attached to Parekura, he was in essence a Māori and that's why his greatness was out of his ability to communicate with his people and be part of the Māori community as a whole so we are looking to follow on that legacy," he says.
The Māori Party wants nominations in by Thursday, and then it will select the candidate through a series of hui.
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