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The Maori Party is facing the fight for its life as Maori support coalesces around Labour's new leadership.
A Maori Television poll of voters on the Maori roll released last night put Labour on 46 percent, with the Maori Party second on 17 percent followed by New Zealand First on 13 percent.
Among wahine Maori, support for Labour was 50 percent, despite the emphasis the Maori Party has put on its Whanau Ora policy.
Half the sample was polled before Labour's leadership change, but in the preferred prime minister stakes, which was sampled after August 1, Jacinda Ardern came out on top at 42 percent followed by Winston Peters at 17 percent.
The result puts a cloud over the Waiariki electorate, where Te Ururoa Flavell faces a strong challenge from Labour's Tamati Coffey.
It also raises concerns about his co-leader Marama Fox, who got in last time on the list vote.
Mr Flavell says he's confident the party will have a place in the next parliament.
"All we have to do is win one seat and the Maori Party is definitely in the House, so as long as I win Waiariki, or someone else wins one or two, then the party vote is important and that is why the relationship with out Pasifika brothers and sisters has been important," he says.
The Maori Party is standing candidates from the United Pacific Party on its list in a bid to harvest more votes in the general seats.
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