June 06, 2013
Online polling favouring Mana
The Mana Party has been invigorated by the race for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, with its candidate Te Hamua Nikora ahead on early polling.
Seven candidates are contesting the by-election to fill the seat left vacant with the death of Labour’s Parekura Horomia.
Labour is banking on Ngāti Kahungunu chief executive Meka Whaitiri to keep the seat in its hands, but a website poll by Radio Waatea showed she had less than 10 percent support, compared to 53 percent for the former Homai Te Pakipaki host.
Mana leader Hone Harawira says the race is wide open.
"The guy leading the race at the moment is Te Hamua and good on him, he's working hard and as far as I know he is the only one that's got people out door knocking on the level he has, they've got 1000 just in Wainuiomata, they're already on the road in Gisborne and Hastings, the billboards are up. We are taking this seriously. Win or lose, we're not in this to come second," he says.
Nominations have now closed, with Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party leader Michael Appleby and independents Adam Holland and Maurice Wairau joining the Labour, Green, Mana and Māori Party candidates on the ballot paper for the June 29 by-election.
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