Waiariki

With no strong opposition from five other candidates, Waiariki MP Mita Ririnui will romp in for a second term.

Neither New Zealand First nor the Greens have bothered to mount a challenge in the mainly Bay of Plenty-based Maori electorate.

It was a different story in 1999, when newcomer Ririnui chanced his arm against the high-profile Tuariki Delamere - and won the redrawn seat with a 4369-vote majority.

Ririnui reaped the benefit of Maoridom's return to its Labour "home" after the brief flirtation with Delamere and New Zealand First.

This time he will get the spin-off from the gains Maori have made in the past term on issues that affect their lives, such as employment, fisheries and land grievances.

Maori voters seem to accept there have been more pluses than minuses under the Labour-led Government and they want the momentum to continue.

Coming from the grassroots, Ririnui could be said to have brought mana back to being a Maori MP.

Despite his high recognition factor in Rotorua, National's Waiariki candidate, Hamuera Mitchell, has not been prominent on the stumps, although his staunch advocacy of Maori issues will attract votes.

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