April 29, 2019
Pressure on for Nats to drop Brash set legacy
National list MP Joanne Hayes believes party members will support contesting the Māori seats again.
Former leader Don Brash stopped National running candidates in the seats in 2005 to emphasise his intention to get rid of them, and the policy continued under John Key and Bill English despite efforts to change it by leading Māori members like Hekia Parata.
Ms Hayes, who is based in Christchurch, wants to stand in Te Tai Hauauru so she can return to her home area.
She says the party’s board needs to recognise conditions have changed now the Māori Party is no longer there to support a National-led government.
"Yes I put my hand up to stand in Te Tai Hauauru. It has not been a secret, my desire to do that. However it is the board that makes that decision but I have made my views very clear the board chair, the president, and other board members so let's see what happens in the next couple of weeks," Ms Hayes says.
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