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Labour’s Māori electorates campaign coordinator, Willie Jackson, says te rohe o Ngāti Kahungunu could a challenge for the party if it is to retain Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
Cushla Tangaere Manuel was yesterday confirmed as the candidate to take on incumbent Meka Whaitiri, who will be standing for the Maori Party.
She’s a former Ngata College head girl and has a background in media and in running Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby for nine years.
Mr Jackson says some of the biggest booths are in Ms Whaitiri’s home area around Hastings and Napier.
“Kahungunu will be a challenge. Obviously Meka will be strong in Kahungunu, we don’t under-estimate that, but we’ve got some good organisers there so if we can even it out there, square it out there, I think we might be able to get home because she will take the other side but Kahungunu is a big vote,” Mr Jackson says.
Ikaroa-Rāwhiti extends from East Cape to Wainuiomata.
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