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November 16, 2023
Marae manaaki not polling booth treat says Kemp
Atereano Mateariki
Posted On November 16, 2023
Download AudioNew Tāmaki Makaurau MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp says marae are there to serve and manaaki whānau.
She has been the chief executive at Manurewa Marae, which is in the spotlight over its use as a polling booth for the election.
She can give up the job now a recount has confirmed her win on special votes over Labour’s Peeni Henare.
She says despite media allegations, there has been no formal complaints about Manurewa, and she’s proud Manurewa marae can provide a place for whānau to vote.
“The polling booth itself was not run by Manurewa marae, it was run by the Electoral Commission. They appoint the staff in the management of the day to day running. The Manurewa marae provided a whare for that to happen. So it’s not our role to be part of the polling booth. Our role is to manaaki our community,” she says
Ms Kemp says she will always manaaki Manurewa Marae because in Māoridom you never fully leave a role, you just go to the background.
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