BREAKING: Nikora to stand for Mana in by-election
The candidate nominations are firming up for the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election ahead of the May 30 - June 5th candidacy period. The announcement that the Maori Party will run their prison officer candidate again will surprise few, but the news the Greens are standing is - and it will come as a blow to the Mana movement who would have counted on the majority of Green voters to back them. This makes it very difficult for Mana whose candidate came third at the general election.
RNZ reporting:
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Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says the party has attracted a great deal of support from Maori over the years and it wants to give voters in Ikaroa-Rawhiti a real choice.
She says a candidate selection meeting will be held on Friday.
The Maori Party has selected Na Raihania as its candidate, and the Mana Party will announce its candidate on Wednesday.
Labour will make its decision on Sunday between four people bidding for the candidacy. They are Hayden Hape, Henare O'Keefe, Meka Whaitiri and Shane Taurima.
The by-election will be held on 29 June.
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This morning on twitter:
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Mihingarangi Forbes@Mihi_Forbes
This is unofficial as the date is set for tomorrow. Nikora is best known for his Maori TV work.
Not sure how the jolly, cheesy TV schtick will translate on the campaign trail though. He will be well-known to the constituency via television, but this won't count for much if Labour pick the slick TVNZ presenter, Shane Taurima who will be a strong contender, ticking many boxes.
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Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says the party has attracted a great deal of support from Maori over the years and it wants to give voters in Ikaroa-Rawhiti a real choice.
She says a candidate selection meeting will be held on Friday.
The Maori Party has selected Na Raihania as its candidate, and the Mana Party will announce its candidate on Wednesday.
Labour will make its decision on Sunday between four people bidding for the candidacy. They are Hayden Hape, Henare O'Keefe, Meka Whaitiri and Shane Taurima.
The by-election will be held on 29 June.
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This morning on twitter:
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Mihingarangi Forbes
Mana Party candidate for #IkaroaRawhiti is Te Hamua Nikora #TeKaea tonight
--This is unofficial as the date is set for tomorrow. Nikora is best known for his Maori TV work.
posted by Tim Selwyn @ 3:41 pm
1 comments
1 Comments:
I think Mana benefit from the Greens' entry. The Greens will take votes from Labour, rather than Mana, in a battle between the general interest parties, and the kaupapa parties.
I also think it could be seen as cynical if Shane Taurima is drafted in from TVNZ (and Auckland) and given leeway on the minimum membership term requirements over the local candidate Meka Whaitiri, and could backfire. We saw it in the Mana by-election, where Kris Fa'afoi and Labour took a big hit in their majority.
I'm picking a two horse race between Labour and Mana, with Labour only just edging it. Mana have a lot going for them: Hone's bill has been drawn at a great time, and single issues can be winners in by-elections.
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