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Labour’s Māori spokesperson is looking forward to the new energy and ideas that will come into the party if Meka Whaitiri wins Saturday’s Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election.
Shane Jones says the by-election has brought to the fore a lot of issues that are usually overlooked, such as the decline of services in the regions.
Housing and employment have also generated comment.
"Those equity issues haven't gone away for regional Māoridom, but each generation has got to conceive its own ideas and bring forward a policy mix that captures the imagination of the people and commands the support of the party, and I think that’s what we will have in Meka," Mr Jones says.
By the end of Tuesday 1155 early votes had been cast for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election,, including 939 ordinary votes and 216 special votes.
At the corresponding period before the 2011 general election there had been 792 ordinary votes cast.
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