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National is doing well in a Maori electorate where they don’t even run a candidate.
The results of a new poll show that the Maori Party ranks third in the southern electorate of Te Tai Tonga, behind the Labor Party, and the non-incumbents in the seat.
A Māori Television Curia voting poll of the Maori electorate shows that Labor incumbent Rino Tirikatene is far ahead at 37 percent.
Maori Party candidate Tākuta Ferris ranks third with 11 percent, behind 19 percent who chose to back a party that does not present candidates. However, a quarter remain undecided.
Supplied
Candidates for the electorate of Tai Tonga include Dr. Ferris of the Maori Party (top left), Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati of the Green Party and Rino Tirikatene of Labor.
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A clue as to which party could get votes can be found in the party’s voting preferences in the 500 voter poll.
The Labor Party was far ahead with 53 percent, but National came in second with 16 percent, ahead of the Maori Party, with 5 percent.
Te Tai Tonga is a gigantic constituency that spans three islands: the Chatham, the entire South Island, and Wellington on the North Island.
The findings are the latest roller coaster turn for the Maori Party as it struggles to return to Parliament.
The first tantalizing glimpse of a possible electorate success follows.
Polls in Waiariki’s Maori electorate, including the Bay of Plenty, showed a close fight with the current Tāmati Coffey, 12%, ahead of Maori Party candidate Rawiri Waititi.
The poll found that 38 percent intended to vote for Coffey, while 26 percent did so for Waititi, with a quarter still undecided.
It showed a potential way for the Maori Party to win at least one seat in Parliament.
The rest of the poll news showed strong Labor support for the remaining six Maori electorates, all in Labor hands as well.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Maori party candidate Debbie Ngarewa-Packer with incumbent Labor West Coast electorate Adrian Rurahwe, speaking in Whakarongotai Marae, Waikanae.
The economy, at 20 percent, and Covid-19, at 11 percent, were the two main problems in Te Tai Tonga.
There was a strong preference for the legalization of cannabis: 51% in favor and 38% against. The majority, 60 percent, supported the End of Life Choice Act. There was 22 percent against.
By voting numbers
Maori television polls of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti’s Maori electorate gave Labor’s Meka Whaitiri a 27% lead over her closest rival, Maori Party candidate Heather Te Au-Skipworth.
Ikaroa-Rāwhiti covers the east coast of the North Island stretching from rural Gisborne to Wainuiomata in the south.
Polls in Te Tai Hauāuru showed that 38 percent intended to vote for Adrian Rurawhe of the Labor Party and 20 percent for Debbie Ngarewa-Packer of the Maori Party.
The saving grace for Ngarewa-Packer was that about a third of voters were still undecided. The electorate ranges from Tirau in Waikato to Porirua.
Labor Nanaia Mahuta was advancing in Hauraki-Waikato, 47% ahead of her Maori Party rival Donna Pokere-Phillips.
