At every turn there are affectionate tales of Mr Horomia's accessibility and compassion, and Ms Whaitiri seems to have retained his supporters, even if some of her votes are cast in his honour.
The region's Ikaroa-Rawhiti voters, concentrated in the lower income suburbs of Flaxmere, Camberley and Maraenui, still back Labour but aren't necessarily happy with the status quo.
They are calling for improved health care and higher wages. There's also a palpable desire for greater unity between Maori MPs.
I found Flaxmere resident Akuhata te Kuru resting on a bench outside Flaxmere Shopping Centre.
He said he wished Maori MPs would "stop squabbling with each other".
"The Maori members in Parliament need to get on with the job - they're just nit-picking at each other, when they should be serving us. They act like school kids."
With his electorate vote, Mr te Kuru was backing Ms Whaitiri.
"My votes always went to Horomia and now they'll go to Meka."
He said he had fond memories of Mr Horomia, who was a highly accessible MP, and "a real animal on the rugby field".
Mr te Kuru was also one of a number of voters to praise Labour's policy of raising the minimum wage to $16.25 by 2015; he wanted to catch up to Australia.
"I'm all for that. We're a long way from Australia, aren't we? You've got people over there packing shelves on $30 an hour."
Flaxmere's Maleah-lei Garland said of Mr Horomia: "I miss him. I may not have always agreed with him, but he was transparent. He always endeavoured to follow what was right for the people, and I haven't found that quality in the other candidates yet. Maybe in Meka - I don't know."
Meanwhile, Hastings resident Jonathan Whakaruru, who was walking his bike through Hastings CBD, expressed concern about health care for Maori.
"Health is the big one for me. I think we need to get Maori doctors and physicians back on the marae. Marae are just sitting here and doing nothing ... We need to improve the health and well-being of our tamariki, our old people and our young people. Our suicide statistics have really spiked in the last four years."
Mr Whakaruru had also known Parekura Horomia before he died and could remember offering advice to him during his health battles - he was overweight for much of his life.
Mr Whakaruru said he had expressed his concerns about health care to Labour incumbent MP Meka Whaitiri, who would receive his vote this year.
Mana's candidate for the seat, the freestyle rapping Te Hamua Nikora, who blurs the lines between performer and politician, isn't without support and appeals to the younger vote. Flaxmere after-school care supervisor Christina Wainohu said, "I just believe in what he says. Politics doesn't seem to have fazed him. Hone Harawira is the one who created the food in schools programme and the National Party took the credit." Hastings city assist Sumiko Goulton also said she'd vote for Mr Nikora. "I think he's an inspiration to our rangatahi (youth) and whanau."
Internet Mana Garners support
Internet Mana has more support in Ikaroa-Rawhiti than any electorate in the region. At an Internet Mana rally in Hastings this week, I met an interesting old lady.
Akina resident Ella Hale, 75, is an Internet Mana volunteer who has spent the past few days walking door-to-door in residential Hastings, with a walker, mustering support for the party. She said a campaign by Internet Mana targeted voters on the Maori roll in the region, particularly in Flaxmere.
To Ms Hale, it would be easier if Maori MP's worked together.
"I wish they would amalgamate," she said of the Maori candidates vying for the seat (there's that pesky word yet again).
She had been, like everyone it seems, a fan of Mr Horomia, but she said Meka Whaitiri couldn't possibly fill his shoes.
"She doesn't mix like Parekura did - she doesn't mix with the people. He used to go to all the schools, he used to go to all the birthdays, and she [Ms Whaitiri] doesn't do that."
Asked whether her old age was in contrast with Internet Mana's youthful policies, Ms Hale said she was a member of the Mana Movement three years ago, before it joined forces with the Internet party. She was quick to defend Mr Dotcom when I suggested he was a polarising figure.
"He actually came from a very poor background and he knows what it's like. He's a godsend really.
"Did you see those vans out there?" She's talking about the fleet of Internet Mana vans parked outside Hastings Racecourse for the rally. "Dotcom bought all the vans."
Ms Hale would continue door-knocking as a loyal Internet Mana supporter.
What does her husband think of all this? "He bakes," she says of the man, who sits within earshot. "He bakes delicious Maori bread. People ask me how we've been together all these years, but divorce has never crossed my mind. Murder, but not divorce."
Ms Hale is a bright lady but Internet Mana seems more an outlet for people who personally dislike the PM.
Ikaroa-Rawhiti can't stand the guy. "Anyone but John Key" (or "John Keys") is heard throughout poor areas.
Many voters characterise him as a malevolent villain with a personal hand in society's ills.
And despite Internet Mana's burgeoning support, the Labour Party's policies have continued to woo voters on the Maori roll this year.
Ikaroa-Rawhiti Electorate
- Total voters polled: 75
- This unscientific poll is of decided voters. 31 per cent of respondents were undecided
- Percentages have been rouned up or down one decimel point.