Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi has emerged with a substantial lead in a new Whakaata Māori-Curia poll of the Waiariki electorate, but a significant number of undecided voters and a tighter party-vote contest are keeping attention firmly on the campaign.
The poll places Waititi on 42 percent support in the electorate vote, ahead of Green Party candidate Tania Waikato on 16 percent and Labour’s Toni Boynton on 14 percent.
Another 18 percent of respondents remain undecided, highlighting the importance of the final weeks of campaigning as candidates compete for support across Waiariki.
The survey questioned 500 Waiariki voters between 21 September and 1 October and has a reported maximum margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
While the electorate-vote figures show Waititi ahead of his main challengers, the party-vote contest is considerably closer, reflecting the different choices voters can make under New Zealand’s Mixed Member Proportional electoral system.
Te Pāti Māori is continuing to promote its split-vote strategy, encouraging supporters to back its candidates in Māori electorates while considering another party for their party vote.
That approach has added another dimension to the election campaign, particularly as Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori compete for Māori support and seek to influence the composition of the next Parliament.
Beyond the political contest, the cost of living remains a major concern for voters, with household expenses, housing affordability, employment and access to essential services among the issues shaping the election debate.
For Waiariki whānau, the campaign also raises wider questions about Māori economic development, hauora, education, whenua and the future of Māori representation in Parliament.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi joins Radio Waatea to discuss the latest polling, the party’s election strategy and what he is hearing from voters across the electorate.
The discussion will examine whether the party’s approach to electorate and party votes is resonating with supporters, how Waititi responds to the concerns of undecided voters, and what Te Pāti Māori is offering whānau facing financial pressure.
With Election Day approaching on 7 November, the Waiariki contest remains an important part of the wider battle for the Māori electorates.
The latest poll provides a snapshot of voter intentions during the survey period, rather than a final result, with the decisions of undecided voters and turnout still to be determined.
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