Harawira loses two votes in recount

Mana Party Leader Hone Harawira. Photo / Getty Images

The number of votes for Mana leader Hone Harawira has been cut by two after a recount in the Te Tai Tokerau seat.

The Electoral Commission released the results of the recount this afternoon, reporting "minor variations" to the official result published on Saturday.

Votes for Labour's Kelvin Davis rose from 9710 to 9712, and Mr Harawira's votes fell from 8971 to 8969.

Maori Party candidate Te Hira Paenga's total rose from 2565 to 2579.

None of the changes affected the election outcome.

Mr Harawira applied for the recount on Tuesday because his party was concerned about the large number of discarded votes in the Maori electorate and wanted independent scrutiny of the results.

Mr Harawira also believed Maori voters had been mistreated at polling booths.

District Court Judge Tom Broadmore, who oversaw the recount, said he would direct the commission to amend the final result.

Mr Broadmore said in a statement that he would issue a further judgement "to record matters coming to my attention during the recount".

He said these matters were of concern to the parties, but would not affect the final result.
"Interested parties may wish to pursue those concerns though other channels."

Candidates - Party - Official Result - Recount Result
DAVIS, Kelvin - LABOUR - 9710 - 9712
DEARLOVE, Clinton - INDEPENDENT - 451 - 454
HARAWIRA, Hone - MANA MOVEMENT - 8,971 - 8,969
PAENGA, Te Hira - MAORI - 2,565 - 2,579
Candidate Informals - 437 - 418
TOTAL - 22,134 - 22,132
(Source: Electoral Commission)