Hone impresses undecided voter'

The undecided voter profiled during Monday's televised debate in Kaikohe says seeing the three Tai Tokerau candidates in action has helped her decide who to choose on election day.

Kaikohe-born and bred Kelly Yakas came home after qualifying as a lawyer and now manages the town's KiwiCan and Stars youth programmes.

The mother of two with Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua and Ngati Pikiao affiliations was interviewed before the debate about what she wanted to know from Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, Labour's Kelvin Davis and Waihoroi Shortland of the Maori Party.

She said she was looking for a candidate with "real and workable policies" who was "prepared to put in the hard yards for Tai Tokerau".

Her key question was how the candidates would boost Maori engagement in education, but she was also concerned about child poverty and the lack of resources and activities for Kaikohe youth.

Ms Yakas said she had been sceptical before the Native Affairs show - her first political debate and first time on TV - but found herself agreeing with much of what the three candidates said.

"They all convinced me they wanted to do the job for the right reasons, but I liked the fact Hone was really straight up and to the point. He wasn't just politicking."

Ms Yakas said she also liked the way Mr Davis had used facts and statistics to back up his arguments, and the broad sweep of Mr Shortland's korero, even if he was little lacking in detail.

As for her question about engagement in education, she agreed with Mr Harawira's response that social issues had to be addressed first - a child who hadn't been fed was in no position to learn.

She also agreed with Mr Davis that the key to a good education was quality teachers.

From being undecided she was now most likely to give her vote to Mr Harawira.

Taking part in the debate had been "an eye-opener and a totally new experience," she said.

"It's created an awareness for me how important it is for our people to vote. It's crucial."

Moerewa School principal Keri Milne-Ihimaera, who judged the candidates' performance on the show, agreed the 2011 election was crucial.

"And not just for Tai Tokerau, but for us as a country.

"There are some serious issues we have to make decisions about, and some dangerous possibilities for schools ... The direction of education is in serious jeopardy if a National Government is re-elected," she said.

Maori Television's live debate from Northland College was the fifth of seven. It was followed by a Hauraki-Waikato debate from Ngaruawahia on Wednesday, with the Tamaki Makaurau debate taking place from 8.30pm on November 21.