September 17, 2014
Maori voters turn to Winston
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is counting on picking up some of the Maori votes he has missed out on in recent elections.
The party swept up the five Maori seats in the first MMP election of 1996, but its share of the Maori vote collapsed the following election.
It has still hauled in votes from the Maori electorates even though it no longer stands candidates in them.
Mr Peters says this time he’s detecting some old voters coming back to the fold and also some young Maori who don’t like what they are seeing in other parties.
" If young Maori and some of the polls are starting to show it now, are backing me and NZ First it's because it's just a bit like the All Blacks or the netball team or whatever, we're out there to compete at the very best and we don't want to be marginalised as being in one category of politicians. That's what young Maori admire most of all. That's what they will aspire to be, to be not just competitive against New Zealanders but against the best in the world " he says.
The last Reid Research-TV3 poll before Saturday’s election puts New Zealand First at 7.9 percent support, enough to get nine MPs including Pita Paraone and Ron Mark.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WINSTON PETERS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjIyMTU=
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