News this morning that (as predicted) the Maori Party will be standing a candidate against Hone Harawira if he forces a by election in Te Tai Tokerau:
Maori Party: ‘We are not going into byelection to come second’
The Maori Party has announced it will stand a candidate against Hone Harawira should he force a byelection in his Te Tai Tokerau electorate.
Maori Party president Pem Bird told Radio New Zealand meetings in the electorate last night resolved the party will stand a candidate against Hone Harawira should he call a by-election.
Mr Bird said the party has got “word on the ground” there is sufficient support in the electorate for the party to win the seat.
“There is a silent majority who have kept quiet and we take heart from that,” he said. “We are not going into the by-election to come second.”
I guess the Maori Party’s word doesn’t count for much then. And I also think they’re making a big mistake. The door is now open for Mana to stand in all the Maori electorates.
Young’s piece continues with an interesting insight into Maori Party thinking:
Mr Bird acknowledged Mr Harawira has the support of young people in Te Tai Tokerau, but the Maori Party would target voters middle-aged and older. “That is our core constituent. Young people don’t vote.
Maybe young people will vote if they think that they have someone to vote for.
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