Race to fill big gap in unique Maori electorate

Dr Pita Sharples. Photo / APN

With heavyweights Pita Sharples and Shane Jones out of the election race, there's a gaping hole in Maori politics and the most urban Maori electorate.

Other Maori electorates are primarily rural, but Tamaki Makaurau is entirely in urban Auckland.

Its present MP, Maori Party co-leader Dr Sharples, who won the seat in 2005 on a wave of Maori opposition to the Labour Party's foreshore and seabed legislation, is standing down.

Labour's candidate for Tamaki Makaurau is Peeni Henare, who said he was in a hikoi that marched against that legislation in 2004.

He admitted the hurt of that legislation lingered, but he believed his party had regained some of that lost trust.

"I will say the foreshore and seabed legislation is very much alive and kicking among Maori voters and we as the Labour Party have certainly committed to regaining that trust."

Mr Henare said the major issues for the electorate were housing, employment, education and youth issues.

Opposing him is Maori Party candidate Rangi McLean.

Known locally for his work in the health sector and a respected kaumatua, Mr McLean said his party's polling had him ahead and he was confident of taking the seat.

He said his party offered the best alternative in terms of outcomes for Maori voters despite criticism of its relationship with the National Government that it has not been able to shake.

"A lot of people don't realise that National invited the Maori Party to the table and it's not widely known that we voted against more of the Government's policies than the Labour Party."

The Greens have chosen Marama Davidson, a former Human Rights Commission educator.

She says the high cost of home ownership and renting, unemployment and accessible public transport are key issues for the electorate.

A Maori Television-Reid Research poll last week showed Mr McLean with 28 per cent support and Mr Henare with 27 per cent.

The Mana Party's Kereama Pene had 14 per cent and Ms Davidson polled 7 per cent.

But 24 per cent of those surveyed said they were undecided or would not vote.

An article in yesterday's Herald about the Waiariki electorate was written before a Native Affairs poll that ran on Maori Television. The poll showed Maori Party candidate Te Ururoa Flavell was well ahead of his nearest rival, Internet-Mana candidate Annette Sykes.