National Party MP for Hamilton West Tama Potaka says his caucus colleague Harete Hipango and newly selected candidate Hinurewa Te Hau will fight a good race for both the Party and themselves.
Harete Hipango is List MP based in Whanganui and will contest Te Tai Hauauru, while Hinurewa Te Hau will run in Tāmaki Makaurau. This puts an end to a 20 years hiatus for the National Party standing in Māori Electorates.
It’s unlikely the pair will win their respective seats given Labour’s incumbency and the rise of Te Pāti Maori.
” I want to mihi to Hinurewa and Harete, they will run a hard race and try their very best to secure votes not only for Te Pāti Kahurangi, the National Party but also for themselves.” says Tama Potaka.
The only way into Parliament for Harete Hipango and Hinurewa Te Hau following October’s election is via a high list place.
” I don’t know where we’re landing on the list, that’s something we’ll get to and that’s a process we’ll go through as a National Party.” says Tama Potaka
He also says, there may be other candidates that emerge that are wāhine Māori.
Tama Potaka, Dr Shane Reti and Harete Hipango are the only Māori currently, in the National caucus.
The National Party is likely to release its list rankings mid to late September.
