November 03, 2023
Te Pāti Māori hoping for special vote boost
The final election vote count is out this afternoon, with Te Pāti Māori hoping to gain one or two more seats.
Co-leader Rawiri Waititi says in 2020 Te Pāti Māori got two thirds of the special votes in the Māori seats.
At that rate, Labour’s election night majorities in Te Tai Tokerau and Tamaki Makaurau of fewer than 500 votes look vulnerable.
There’s also a higher percentage of special votes in the Māori seats.
“If you have a look at the special votes it’s those who have been unorganised, who’s changed address, didn’t register, voted outside of their rohe. Usually pakeha voters are quite organised. It’s our people that are not,” Mr Waititi says.
Labour is hoping to reverse its election night losses in Banks Peninsula, Nelson and Te Atatu, while National is expected to go down a seat or two, making it more necessary to bring New Zealand First into a coalition.