Tamihere-Sharples debate draws crowd

It is not often politicians pull bigger crowds than sporting or film and television stars.

Yet it was the political debate in the hotly contested Tamaki Makaurau seat that pulled in punters at the bi-annual Auckland University of Technology Maori expo in the Aotea Centre yesterday.

Katchafire jammed and visitors tucked into barbecued garlic mussels and scallops as Maori broadcaster Willie Jackson controlled the debate among Maori representatives from five parties.

The conference room that had earlier drawn moderate crowds to hear sporting stars such as Eric Rush and Tawera Nikau, and similar numbers for actor Don Selwyn and media veteran Derek Fox, was soon standing room only.

They heard Destiny Party leader Richard Lewis call for the strengthening of family and Christian values.

The Greens' Metiria Turei detailed her humble origins and called for greater sharing in the community. Give the Greens your party vote, she urged.

National list MP Georgina te Heuheu put on a brave face, despite having to front just days after her party leader had resurrected his Orewa policy and promised to axe the Maori seats.

She reminded voters that only National or Labour would govern after the election.

But the remaining speakers, Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples and Tamaki Makaurau MP John Tamihere, were really who the crowd had come to see.

Dr Sharples' forceful delivery and strong advocacy for Maori drew loud applause. He repeated his mantra that the Maori Party was a voice for Maori in Parliament, before pre-empting Mr Tamihere by slamming Labour's warning that a vote for the Maori Party was a vote for National.

Mr Tamihere called for protection of the Treaty of Waitangi and protection of the Maori seats.

He urged Maori to look to the future and not to the past, pitching himself and his Labour Maori caucus colleagues as progressive and offering real achievement for Maori.

After the meeting, opinions were divided on who won the debate.