February 17, 2020
Caucus hands off as seat battle looms in Manurewa
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The co-chair of Labour’s Māori caucus, Willie Jackson, says there will be no attempt by MPs to influence the fight for the nomination in the safe seat of Manurewa.
The seat, which has one of the largest concentrations of Māori on the general roll, is held by Louisa Wall.
She faces challenges from another wahine Māori, Arena Williams, and from lawyer Ian Dunwoodie, who has a long association with the area and is understood to have the backing of a large number of party members.
Mr Jackson told Radio Waatea host Claudette Hauiti under party rules any member can put their name up.
"Obviously some of us will favour certain candidates but it's unfair to come out because the candidates will come out and say they didn't get a fair run, there was a bias, all those types of things happen, so the president and our council make a declaration there will be no commentary on who we favour, who we're backing, so I’m obliged to follow that," he says.
Willie Jackson says Louisa Wall, who has held the seat since 2011, is a valuable member of the Māori caucus as well as chairing the health select committee.
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