May 05, 2014
Taumata prepares candidate for conflict
Maori Party president Naida Glavish is expecting big things of the party’s newest candidates.
Over the weekend educationalist and businesswoman Susan Cullen was nominated to contest Waikato-Hauraki, and south Auckland community stalwart Rangi McLean was picked for Tamaki Makaurau.
Ms Glavish says the pair will get training from MPs and other insiders on how to promote the party’s policies and philosophies.
She says they should both be up to the rough and tumble of politics, with Mr McLean in particular known as a steadying influence.
"He’s had many years of experience on the taumata of several areas here in Tamaki Makaurau where he has had to deal with confrontational things so I’m sure he will handle it well," Ms Glavish says.
She’s not concerned that Mr McLean will be swamped if, as expected, Labour picks former television presenter Shane Taurima as its candidate, because it’s popularity within the electorate rather than national profile that counts.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd