Listen Now: 
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei is hoping the strong slate of candidates for Ikaroa Rāwhiti will bring out the voters.
Early voting in the by-election to replace the late Parekura Horomia started today at 22 booths throughout the electorate, which stretches from East Cape to Wainuiomata.
Ms Turei says last election 35,000 people were on the roll, but only about 19,000 came out to vote.
"It might be that because the electorate is wide open now and there really is a genuine choice about who people might vote for, we might see an increase in voter participation. I really hope so. Who represents you in parliament is so important, the kind of voice you want to hear, so I hope people do get out, but it is taking a lot of work from all the parties because it is a really spread out electorate," Ms Turei says.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
RELATED NEWS
