Changing Northcote spells opportunity for Halbert

UMA Broadcasting Ltd

Labour's Northcote candidate says he will present a clear alternative to the sitting member.

Shanan Halbert from Rongowhakaata was picked last night to go up against Health Minister Jonathan Coleman, who holds the seat for National by almost 10,000 votes.

Mr Halbert says there are more than 3000 Maori voters in the electorate, as well as a changing demographic mix among other voters.

"It's young professionals like myself who are first home buyers, still want to live close to the city for work. There's some great schools locally, education is a focus and Coleman has been really absent so with his new (foreign affairs) portfolio coming up if things change for him in May he will be offshore so that leaves an opportunity for us as Labour to come in and close that gap," he says.

Shanan Halbert says when he chaired Labour's Kaunihera Maori he made a commitment to ensure there were Maori across the party and not just in the Maori seats.

FULL INTERVIEW WITH SHANAN HALBERT

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