Opinion: Ikaroa-Rāwhiti poised to be well represented in Parliament
There is a growing possibility that up to three candidates contesting the Māori electorate of Ikaroa-Rāwhiti could find themselves elected to Parliament this weekend.
The Labour’s incumbent MP and former Cabinet Minister Meka Whaitiri, whose mentor was party stalwart Parekura Horomia, has a good chance of retaining her seat.
She certainly gets around one of the most geographically challenging seats and although she now resides in Gisborne, she has not forgotten her Whakatu roots.
You don’t get more Bay than having respected Whakatu kaumatua, the late Wiremu (Bill) Whaitiri, as a father and a mother, Mei Whaitiri, who was the model for Napier’s famous Pania of the reef sculpture.
Meka Whaitiri has had her trials - none more significant than being stripped of her ministerial warrants for an altercation with a staff member.
However, she seems to work hard in her electorate and has soldiered on with a steely determination that will certainly be required to keep her seat. Whaitiri does have the added insurance policy of being number 28 on the Labour Party list, so she will be back in Wellington either way.
However, she is up against someone many regard as the real deal. Heather Te Au-Skipworth, an elected member of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board board, needs no introduction in this region.
She was the inspiration and founder of Iron Māori, the triathlon series that got New Zealanders of all walks of life, but especially Māori, off their couches to start exercising. The results have been remarkable and the loyalty that she has garnered from her converts could see her cause a surprise victory against the experienced Whaitiri.
She also has an added trick up her sleeve. Te Au-Skipworth is sitting at a comfortable third on the Māori Party list. So, if co-leader John Tamihere, who has demoted himself to 7 th , steals a march to win the Tāmaki Makaurau seat and if the party vote creeps up, then Te Au-Skipworth could be in Parliament anyway.
But wait, there is more. Green Party candidate Dr Elizabeth KereKere, who came third last time, but impressed with her passion and knowledge, is at number nine on her party’s list.
Based on the last One New/Colmar Brunton poll, which put the Greens at 8 per cent (11 MPs), KereKere will be going to Parliament.
It is an interesting scenario, and the region would benefit enormously to have the three of them in Parliament. There is respect between the three of them and, who knows, they may even find themselves in a coalition government together if Labour gets the chance to form one.
The other three candidates standing in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti are certainly interesting, but not likely to poll very high. Unusually for a Māori seat, we have a New Conservative candidate in Manawatu mother of seven Melissa Hill. She and her husband Richard Hill, who is standing as the New Conservative candidate for the Hauraki-Waikato Māori seat, run a homekill butchery business on their property.
Representing Advance NZ is Ruatoria-based Waitangi Kupenga. She is a part-time Iwi radio announcer and is also involved in developing an art business.
Rounding out the candidates is the Outdoors Party’s Kelly Thurston, a sports enthusiast born and raised in Taumarunui, King Country.
But this election is basically a two-person race that could have three winners. Whaitiri will probably win the seat but expect to see Te Au-Skipworth not far behind. KereKere will probably come third again but can virtually book her ticket to Wellington thanks to the party list.
All will be revealed tomorrow night.
Andrew Austin is a local political commentator and host of Austin on Air, a weekly political show on Radio Kidnappers.
All opinions expressed here are his and not necessarily those of Hawke’s Bay App.
