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March 02, 2020
Onus on candidates to drive Maori Party message
Waatea Team
Posted On March 2, 2020
The Maori Party's vice president believes its election efforts are starting to show momentum, but it will be up to the candidates to not only uphold the party's brand but to steer its policies.
The party's Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate committee yesterday picked IronMāori founder Heather Te Au-Skipworth as its candidate, joining Debbie Ngarewa-Packer in Te Tau Hauāuru and Rawiri Waititi in Waiariki.
Kaapua Smith says it's a sign the party is regenerating after its 2017 wipe-out.
"Part of it is a strategy in mind but bringing the new hands on deck to actually shape it, they have to own it, they're the ones that have to take it out to our people so it is a moving feast but we certainly have our on the prize and the main thing is the Māori Party must get back in in the next Government or in the next parliament," she says.
Kaapua Smith says voters who support kaupapa Maori need to realise they can only advance that through the Maori Party, not by waiting for Labour of National to respond.
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