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A former Labour Maori MP says the party has lost the chance to regain Tamaki Makaurau by refusing to let Shane Taurima stand.
The party’s national council last night declined to give the former broadcaster a waiver to seek selection, after an independent report criticised his use of TVNZ resources for party activities.
The report also found he had performed his journalistic work for the channel professionally and with no bias.
Dover Samuels says the Auckland-based seat is high profile and requires a high profile committed candidate like Mr Taurima.
"The Maori electorates couldn't give a stuff about the management and the problems they had within Television New Zealand. It doesn't resonate with them whatsoever. What resonates with them is the ability of the candidate or the member of parliament to be able to represent their concerns and their issues in the parliament," he says.
Mr Samuels says the decision sends a signal that the Labour Council is not listening to its Maori members.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DOVER SAMUELS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTgwMzA=
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