Editorial: Maori had chance for tactical vote

The MMP system survived the weekend referendum, a sign that tactical voting will remain a part of the political landscape at general elections.

Not everyone votes tactically, however, and as a result some electorates are not as well represented as they might be.

Maori voters in Ikaroa-Rawhiti, for example, could have ensured they had two MPs representing their people had they chosen to vote tactically.

At the ballot box on Saturday voters in Ikaroa-Rawhiti, which includes Hawke's Bay, opted overwhelmingly for Labour's Parekura Horomia, giving him 9523 votes, or 51 per cent of the ballots cast, and ensuring his fifth term in Parliament.

Yet Mr Horomia, at No 6 on Labour's list, was a shoo-in for the next Parliament even without the electorate vote.

Had they been of a mind to, Ikaroa-Rawhiti voters could have elected the Maori Party's Na Raihania or Mana's Tawhai McClutchie as their electorate representative and still had the comfort of having Mr Horomia, an MP they obviously trust, in Parliament.

Mr Raihania was the next highest polling candidate with 3599 votes, a good showing for his first national election, but still a long way from threatening Mr Horomia.

It is possible, of course, that Ikaroa-Rawhiti voters largely rejected the Maori Party because of its closeness to the previous National-led Government. Tactical voting will only ever work if voters decide it's a win for them.

That's what the blue-blooded residents of Epsom in Auckland have concluded in recent elections, voting for Act candidates to ensure strong coalition support for their preferred party, National.

Back in our neck of the woods, Mr Raihania says he believes many Maori voters are motivated less by tactical voting or a party's policies and more by personality and the people they know.

His summation: "I do think Maori have to be more strategic on how they approach the election and not just take things at face value."