Freshmen win Maori electorates

Labour Party political newcomer Peeni Henare says he’s facing numerous challenges to win the confidence of his electorate after his party’s poll thrashing.

The quietly spoken and unassuming father of five won the Tamaki Makaurau seat with a 1235 majority over the Maori Party’s Rangi McLean.

Mr Henare’s win returned the seat to Labour for the first time since former MP John Tamihere won it in 2002.

Labour’s wins in six Maori electorates are a reversal of the nationwide feeling.

Mr Henare has a background in public and community service and is the son of Maori Language Commissioner Erima Henare.

The 34-year-old lives in Moerewa but will likely move his whanau to be with him in Auckland.

Among his first priorities is listening to the youth voice in local communities and addressing housing and work issues in the area.

New Te Tai Hauauru MP Adrian Rurawhe says he’s got big shoes to fill — even if they belong to an opposition MP, who happens to be a relative and his former boss.

Mr Rurawhe is a former work colleague of Tariana Turia, who is retiring from politics.

The Labour MP won the electorate with 7092 votes — more than 1400 ahead of his Maori Party rival Chris McKenzie.

Mrs Turia had a stranglehold on the seat since 2002 and had left a huge legacy for him and other MPs, he said.

Mr Rurawhe, a former chairman of Te Runanga o Ngati Apa with a long involvement in health and education, rejected criticism that the party vote was a waste as its MPs were all in opposition.

“There is honour in battling on the opposition benches and that is exactly what we are going to be doing in raising the issues that people have raised with me.” He was looking forward to setting up infrastructure that would allow him to best represent the interests in Te Tai Hauauru, where unemployment remained the region’s most pressing issue.