May 05, 2014
Groundwork key to getting votes
Groundwork key to getting votes
Labour’s Northland candidate intended to use her experience in last year’s local government election to raise the party’s vote in September and knock a hole in the incumbent MP’s hefty majority.
Willow Jean Prime was a surprise winner last year after she mobilised her Ngati Hine supporters to get enough votes to get on the Far North District Council.
She is now applying those organisational skills to the task of reducing National MP Mike Sabin’s 11,000 pus vote margin.
"Turnout in Northland was about 75 percent in 2011 so higher than local body elections but still a lot that aren't participating so even though Mike (Sabin) did get a very good majority last time I think it's time for change in Northland so I am going to go out and campaign strong," she says.
Willow Jean Prime says she has also been invited to stand for the Maori Party, but she stuck with Labour because of its strong progressive policies and because she was upset at the Maori Party’s uncritical backing of the granting of a mandate to Tuhoronuku to negotiate settlement of Ngapuhi treaty claims.
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