The Māori Party’s Ikaroa Rawhiti candidate says post-Covid fatigue and immersion in cyclone recovery efforts is leading to disengaged voters.
Meka Whaitiri says it’s a very different campaign to the last election, particularly in the northern half of the electorate where it’s no use knocking on doors because many people don’t have doors or homes.
Iwi don’t have time to host debates, so it’s mainly community events where only a few people on the Māori roll turn out.
“That’s just an insight, not to people’s disinterest in voting but for the people in Te Matau a Maui and from Hick’s Bay north, just fatigue and a dense of despondency and disengagement at the moment,” she says.
Ms Whaitiri says the priorities for voters are getting back on their land and having their homes and marae rebuilt – and she’s picking an even lower urn out than in 2020.
