February 02, 2017
Jackson jumping into Labour camp
Labour leader Andrew Little has confirmed he has talked with broadcaster and former Alliance MP Willie Jackson about standing on the Labour Party list for the September 23 election.
Mr Jackson heads the Manukau Urban Maori Authority and sits on a large number of Maori organisations.
The New Zealand Herald reports Mr Jackson was being courted by the Maori Party to stand against Peeni Henare in Tamaki Makaurau, but was enticed away with assurances of backing for a good list placing.
Mr Little says part of his job is talking to potential candidates, and Mr Jackson comes with some positives for the party.
"What he’s done in terms of the businesses he has run, the activities he has been involved in, his community activities and engagement, particularly for urban Maori, and the kind of personality he has got, is the kind of thing I would like to see on our team, but we are a wee way from that yet," he says.
Decisions about list placing will be made by the party later in the year.
Te Taitokerau MP Kelvin Davis says he’s excited by the prospect of having Mr Jackson adding the Labour’s Maori line-up.
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