The empty Te Tai Hauāuru seat can now be claimed by Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer in a landslide.
The Te Pāti Māori co-leader continues to draw votes her way, counting 11,356, compared to Labour’s Soraya Peke-Mason trailing on 5,259.
The seat was up for grabs when incumbent MP Adrian Rūrawhe announced he would only seek a place on the Labour Party list.
It also brought the return of National’s Harete Hipango, along with National contesting for the Māori electorates, but she and Vision NZ’s Paris Winiata have had a low vote count.
Ngarewa-Packer’s headquarters has been filled with waiata and cheers with her supporters, whānau and kapa haka rōpū.
Speaking to teaonews.co.nz, Ngarewa-Packer says she is excited for what’s to come in her electorate and holding the next government to account.
“Our people have spoken and it’s time for change. We need to make sure now that we have a National-ACT government that Te Pāti Māori, the strongest tangata whenua voice, will fight and make sure that we will push back as strong opposition in Parliament.”
In 2017, she said her party was in “life support mode”. In 2023, Te Pāti Māori will be full of life in Te Tai Hauāuru.
