November 13, 2023
Recount futile for Labour numbers says Tamihere
Māori Party president John Tamihere says Labour will gain nothing if its candidate Peeni Henare prevails in the Tāmaki Makaurau recount.
The recount started at 9am under the watch of a district court judge and is expected to last several days.
Mr Henare lost by four votes to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Tarsh Kemp after special votes were counted.
“Labour adds nothing if it adds Tamaki Makaurau. What it does is it takes another Maori out of the House and that’s Tarsh Kemp because Peeni was already in on the list and it’s not going to change their list at all,” Mr Tamihere says.
He says MMP should mean more Maori in parliament.
The Māori Pārty’s scrutineers for the recount include a Māori administrative lawyer and a Māori accountant.