August 28, 2020
Tamihere pushes for electorate vote
Māori Party co-leader John Tamihere has put himself at 7 on the party list, the lowest of its Māori electorate candidates.
He says it’s to send a signal that if the voters of Tāmaki Makaurau don’t put him there, he won’t be going back to parliament.
Mr Tamihere was ousted from parliament in 2005 when he stayed off the Labour Party list and was beaten in the seat by Pita Sharples.
If number one pick Debbie Ngarewa Packer wins Te Tai Hauāuru, the seat where the party considers it has the best chance, a strong list vote could also bring in Waiariki candidate Rawiri Waititi.
Prominent Māori showing their support for the kaupapa by going on the list include Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, Māori healthcare claimant Lady Tureiti Moxon, Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish, and Gisborne environmentalist Tina Porou.
Taiaha Hawke from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the son of former Labour MP Joe Hawke, has also nailed colours to the Māori Party mast.
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