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Maori Language Commission Chief Executive Pita Paraone has taken leave without pay so he can stand for New Zealand First in Whangarei.
Mr Paraone, who served as a list MP from 2002 until 2008, says he’s keen to get back into the House.
He says five weeks is a long time in politics, and he’s confident the party can again connect its policies with enough voters to get him over the line.
He says issues like youth unemployment show how much the government is out of touch with the needs of the north.
"If you consider that Whangarei and the wider north has been represented by one party for almost 30 years now and it's a sad commentary that that party has not been able to turn around the social statistics not only for Maori, but for the general public here in Northland," Mr Paraone says.
Glenis Philip-Barbara has resumed the position as head of Te Taura Whiri.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH PITA PARAONE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjEzNzA=
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