December 09, 2013
Candidate combines tikanga with economics
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is confident former Chris McKenzie can hold Te Tai Hauauru next election.
The former Raukawa Settlement Trust chair, who is currently working in Mrs Turia’s office, was yesterday selected from a strong field of six candidates.
While Labour has a strong challenger in Adrian Rurawhe, Mrs Turia says Maori voters are now a lot more strategic and won’t blindly follow the mainstream parties.
She says Mr McKenzie has what it takes to appeal to her electorate, which stretches from Wellington to Kawhia.
"He is very committed to kaupapa and tikanga, but he is also quite a strategic thinker and has a strong economic focus, so he knows that if we don’t look broadly at what whanau ora is about, if we don’t bring economic sustenance to our families, we won’t make the difference that we want, so he’s got an education background but he also was a leader of his iwi," Mrs Turia says.
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