Labour names Te Tai Tokerau candidate

Labour MP Kelvin Davis. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Labour Party will stand its MP Kelvin Davis in the looming Te Tai Tokerau byelection, increasing the pressure on Mr Harawira to hold the seat against strong challengers.

Leader Phil Goff said yesterday the party remained concerned about the cost of the byelection, so close to a general election, but wanted to give the voters a choice and intended to front a serious, well resourced challenge.

The Maori Party has also decided to mount a challenge and is looking at some strong candidates.

The byelection is expected to be triggered by Mr Harawira's formal resignation this week and will test how much of his 12,000 votes in 2008 were personal support, rather than support for the Maori Party.

First-term List MP and former principal Mr Davis has impressed his colleagues and was promoted by Mr Goff last year.

Yesterday, he said he believed Mr Harawira's support was overstated, despite the "hype".

He believed he had a good chance of winning the seat, especially if there was a split in the vote between Mr Harawira and the Maori Party candidate.

Mr Harawira responded to the decision by saying he had a lot of respect for Mr Davis. However, Mr Goff's decision to stand was a "flipflop" given his criticism of the cost of the byelection.

"The Mt Albert and Mana byelections were caused by Labour MPs dumping their voters for a better job, but you don't hear Goff saying boo about the cost of the byelections caused by Helen Clark or Winnie Laban."

He also believed Labour had lost support in the North.

"Tai Tokerau have made it clear that they don't want to go back to a party that doesn't listen. They want an MP who will listen, will stand up for their rights and speak the truth."

Several high-profile Northland names have been speculated on as Maori Party candidates, including broadcaster and actor Waihoroi Shortland, Ngati Hine lawyer Mere Mangu, Ngati Whatua chairwoman and health advocate Naida Glavish and Ngati Hine Runanga secretary and educationalist Pita Tipene.

Ms Mangu said yesterday it was "a possibility" she was interested but decisions were still being made. Naida Glavish would not comment until she had spoken to party officials and Pita Tipene said he had been approached by some local party members, but not officially.

THREE YEARS AGO

Te Tai Tokerau 2008 election results.

Electorate vote:

Hone Harawira: 12,019

Kelvin Davis: 5711

Party vote:

Maori Party: 6204

Labour Party: 9200