The large Te Tai Hauāuru electorate had it good when Mrs Turia was its MP, she said. There was a big gap now, with only two Māori Party MPs in Parliament and current Te Tai Hauāuru MP Adrian Rurawhe "probably doing exactly what Labour want him to be doing".
"I see that there's a big, huge gap for some of our issues to continue fighting for the betterment of our whanau."
With an average income for Patea people of $17,000 a year, things had got to improve for people in the electorate, she said.
"Never have I seen it as tough for families to survive as it is now."
She has had no time for the Labour Party since the foreshore and seabed issue that caused Mrs Turia leave it. She's not looking to the state to help Māori people, but to the state to empower Māori to look after themselves.
As to the Māori Party's agreement to work with the National Party, she's had many a passionate debate about that. She concluded it was the way to get things done, but the relationship shouldn't get too comfortable.
"Surely people put you there to deliver on something you're going to do for them," she said.
Under new president Tukoroirangi Morgan the Māori Party had new vigour and other iwi leaders would be standing as MPs, she said. Its aim was to win back all the Māori seats.