Marama Davidson: a promising Green candidate

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 pm, May 26th, 2013 - 12 comments
Categories: by-election, democratic participation, greens, labour, mana-party, maori party - Tags: , , ,

Marama Davidson has been selected as the Green Party candidate in the Ikaroa-Rahiti by-election.  She expressed herself extremely well at a meeting about Sue Moroney’s paid parental leave private member’s bill that I attended last year.  She also had a very compelling and inclusive green left perspective.  She has a very good track record as a communicator.  It will be interesting to see how she performs in the by-election.

As 3 News reported, Labour’s choice,  Meka Whaitiri, is a strong candidate, and the front-runner at the moment in the by-election.  However, Tova O’Brien also pointed out that being a front runner can bring added pressures, and often by-elections can play out in unpredictable ways.  3 news gave space to all 4 of the candidates in the by-election.  They look like an intriguing line up.

TV One also did a report on the candidates tonight, giving most attention to the favourite, Meka Whaitiri.  One News says of Whaitiri,

The mother-of-two has been chief executive of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, one of the counrty’s [sic] largest iwi, for the past four years and is affiliated to Ngati Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata.

“All I want to do is represent the issues that matter to our people here in Ikaroa-Rawhiti,” she said.

Davidson has worked for the Human Rights Commission as an educator, is a blogger and commentator in Maori media and currently works for the Owen Glenn inquiry into family violence and child abuse.

“I will be a strong particular wahine voice, a women’s perspective,” Davidson said. “And that is often missed; our representation in government lacks when it comes to Maori women.”

One News also says this of the other 2 candidates:

Labour wants to keep the Ikaroa-Rawhiti seat, which covers much of the North Island, but Maori Party candiate Na Raihania says it’s not guaranteed they will win it again. …

Mana’s Te Hamua Nikora was in Hastings today, not only seeking support but also urging voters to switch to the Maori roll.

“At the moment there are 25,000 Maori in the electorate that are on the general roll and there’s nothing wrong with that, but if you want to have a voice in the electorate you need to be on that [the Maori roll].”

At the moment,  I am most interested to see how Davidson performs.  She blogs at Maui Street, and The Daily Blog. However, the four candidates all have potential, and I’ll be interested to see how they perform during the by-election campaign.

12 comments on “Marama Davidson: a promising Green candidate ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ghostrider888 1
    26 May 2013 at 7:50 pm

    Excellent prompt work karol. You Rock!

  2. mickysavage 2
    26 May 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Good post Karol.

    I spent quite a bit of time working on the Te Tai Tokerau by election in 2011. It was an interesting experience and I knocked on a number of doors and spoke to a number of electors in West Auckland and also in Helensville.

    I was astounded at the sophistication of the electorate. Everyone knew who the candidates were and most of them knew about their whanau links to both Kelvin and Hone. In European electorates I am normally happy if they recognise the name of their local MP.

    This election will depend on both whanau and on the sophisticated analysis by Maori of what is good for them.

    The Maori electorates are as sophisticated as Epsom in working out what is best.

    This concept will play with a few people’s minds but our tangata whenua are amongst the most sophisticated groups of our electorate.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1
      27 May 2013 at 10:50 am

      This concept will play with a few people’s minds but our tangata whenua are amongst the most sophisticated groups of our electorate.

      The result, I suspect, of nearly two centuries of being oppressed.

  3. Tigger 3
    26 May 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Great to see Nikora urging voters onto the Maori roll. More on the roll, more seats, smaller Maori seats, better representation.

  4. xtasy 4
    26 May 2013 at 11:59 pm

    “Davidson has worked for the Human Rights Commission as an educator, is a blogger and commentator in Maori media and currently works for the Owen Glenn inquiry into family violence and child abuse.

    “I will be a strong particular wahine voice, a women’s perspective,” Davidson said. “And that is often missed; our representation in government lacks when it comes to Maori women.””

    With her background and solid experience in varous fields, Marama Davidson would be a refreshing, great contribution to Parliament. More people of her calibre are needed, to raise a sound and competent voice for Maori and those that are not given a fair deal in present day New Zealand.

    Her standing for the Greens, promoting environmentally friendly and smarter policies for a hopefully better future, gives her additional credit.

    This seems to be turning into an interesting by-election.

  5. Yes 5
    27 May 2013 at 12:28 am

    Smarter policies…which one…name one?

  6. xtasy 6
    27 May 2013 at 1:32 am

    Take your pick, if you can bother to inform yourself:

    http://www.greens.org.nz/policy

  7. Yes 7
    27 May 2013 at 7:15 am

    At 9% of voting public opinion poll last night..91% of new zealanders don’t think they are smart policies. Just reading the stats

  8. Uaua 8
    31 May 2013 at 10:09 pm

    Marama is cool, but don’t think it’s wise that they pulling her all the way done from aucks. We need some one who knows the locals who speaks their language and who can best rep for the rohe. If greens get in u can be certain that the wants n desires of their voter base (middle class pakeha living in cities) will overpower the needs of the people in Ikaroa Rawhiti. Same with labour! Where is Rino anyway?? Labour just swallows them up and overwhelms them with party politics.

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