June 21, 2013
Final push for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti votes
Campaigners from the various political parties will be out in force in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti this weekend as they try to reach as many voters as possible before the June 29 by-election.
Mana’s Te Hamua Nikora has been leading the various online polls, which has helped the party inspire volunteers to help knock on doors from Wainuiomata to Te Whanau-ā-Apanui.
Labour is counting on its organisational weight and has mobilised its MPs to help Meka Whaitiri cover the ground, but her supposed appeal to women voters is being blunted by the more charismatic Green candidate, Marama Davidson.
The Māori Party’s Na Reihania has been struggling, and an endorsement from Prime Minister John Key is unlikely to help him boost his total.
The Electoral Commission reports that up to Thursday night 544 early votes had been cast, compared with 318 votes at the same stage before the 2011 general election.
Of those, 420 were ordinary votes from within the electorate and 124 came from outside.
Votes can only be cast within the electorate on polling day.
Copyright ©, UMA Broadcasting Ltd, 2013