Maori Party hopes

SOUTH Taranaki iwi leader Debbie NgarewaPacker could be the Maori Party’s best chance of getting back into Parliament.

While she is polling behind Labour’s Adrian Rurawhe in Te Tai Hauauru, a third of voters in the electorate remain undecided about who to vote for.

She said the seat was absolutely winnable.

‘‘Thirty percent were undecided, which actually means we’re in the game, and there were 5% that didn’t disclose,’’ she said.

Incumbent Adrian Rurawhe has held for two terms, and he is confident about his chances.

A recent Maori TelevisionCuria Research Poll found 38% of voters are backing him to win, with just 20% picking Ms NgarewaPacker.

The two leading candidates have a lot of ground to cover in this electorate, which spans from Porirua north of Wellington all the way to Tokoroa in Waikato, and includes Taranaki, Whanganui and Palmerston North. — RNZ