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June 20, 2023
Nanaia Mahuta to run seat only in Hauraki-Waikato
Waatea Team
Posted On June 20, 2023
Nanaia Mahuta has announced she will forego a list ranking position and contest the electorate seat of Hauraki-Waikato only, at this year’s elections.
This means there’s no fall back safety net for the current Minister of Foreign Affairs if she fails to win her seat. This is the third time she has called upon her constituents to show full support for her and Labour by taking away their party vote option.
Willie Jackson says the remainder of the Māori caucus are focused on a two ticks campaign and that it was Nanaia Mahuta’s decision to run seat only.
This will be the third time she has gone into an election without a list ranking. She ran the same campaign in 2005 and 2017, retaining her seat comfortably on both occasions. However, the MP says she knows there’s a lot at stake for both her and Labour.
“I’m putting my mandate in front of the electorate. It’s their choice, but there is a lot at risk. In Hauraki-Waikato if we want to continue with the progressive gains that we’ve made, support Labour,” she said.
In the meanwhile, Labour’s candidate for Ikaroa Rawhiti is due to be announced at the end of this week early next week.
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