Political Disagreement No Answer For Voters In Tai Tokerau

The public disagreement that has developed between the Mana and Labour candidates in Te Tai Tokerau is no answer to the problems of Maori voters in Te Tai Tokerau Maori electorate, according to the president of the Maori Party, Rangimarie Naida Glavish. “What is important is what’s best for the rohe and its people.”

“This personal squabble is distracting attention from the win-win alternative available to our people in the Te Tai Tokerau rohe, who want no part of the deal between Mana and Kim Dotcom”.

“The focus should be on having an effective voice in government that will generate investment into Te Tai Tokerau concentrating in the first instance on Northland’s infrastructure needs,” said Ms Glavish, who is also chair of Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua.

Maori Party candidate Rev Te Hira Paenga agrees. “I believe our people understand how to vote strategically and they will have a win-win alternative of having two MPs in the next Parliament committed to fighting for upgrades to roads, transport and community services in our region, by supporting my candidacy”.

“Our Maori Party has made it clear that we will be part of the next government, whoever leads it, and both Labour and National have made it clear they will be happy to work with us. If it's National, I will be there for the Maori Party”

"If Labour gets enough votes to lead the next government, Kelvin Davis, its Te Tai Tokerau candidate will be in Parliament off the list, so both Kelvin and I will be in the Labour-led government caucus to push Northland's infrastructure claims. That's the win-win situation for Maori voters.”

With National and Labour both declaring they will not work with Internet Mana both Glavish and Paenga question the reasoning behind a vote for Internet Mana candidate Hone Harawira.

“He will be on the opposition benches yet again and quite frankly our people deserve better”, adds Ms Glavish.

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