March 05, 2020
Rock solid Whaitiri should weather IronMaori challenge
The chair of Labour’s Māori seat campaign believes the Māori Party would have a tough task unseating Ikaroa Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.
The party has put up Heather Te Au-Skipworth, who has a high profile because of her role organising the IronMaori triathlon competition.
Willie Jackson says the threat is not to be underestimated, but Ms Whaitiri’s performance last election in the East Coast seat against then-Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox shows she is up for the challenge.
"Marama Fox was all over the media. She was the star performer for the Māori Party, but in her home patch Meka took the seat comfortably so Heather has a huge mountain to climb but good on her for putting her hat in the ring, good on her for having a shot here," he says.
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