Kelvin Davis takes risk sticking to electorate seat but confident he will be re-elected

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis says it's a risk to stand only in an electorate seat in September's election, but he's confident his record will see him re-elected to parliament. PHOTO/FILE

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis acknowledges it's a risk not to seek a place on Labour's list for the September elections, but he's confident his record will see him re-elected.

Mr Davis, along with the rest of Labour's Maori electorate MPs - who hold six of the seven Maori seats - have opted not to run on the party list, as part of a strategy to defeat the Maori Party and Mana alliance at the general election.

By removing themselves from the list, the Labour MPs who hold Maori seats could free up spaces for other Maori candidates outside Parliament, like Northland's Willow-Jean Prime, Willie Jackson, or Tamati Coffey.

Mr Davis said although it was "a bit of a risk" not to take a list placing, he was confident his record over the past two-and-a-half years - including "getting rid of [Mt Eden Prison private provider] Serco; raising the issue of prisoner abuse in Parliament; highlighting the treatment of Kiwis deported from Australia; and walking 17 marathons to raise awareness around sexual abuse" will see him re-elected ahead of Mana leader Hone Harawira.

"That's compared to the previous nine years when nothing was achieved for Te Tai Tokerau," he said.

Mr Davis said Maori electorate MPs, such as Louisa Wall, will continue to be on the list and standing down from the list allowed plenty of places for more Maori to receive high list placings.

"I can see up to 10 Maori MPs in a single party [after the election] which will be an historic first. The aim is to have those 10 MPs as part of the next government so we can make a real difference for our people," he said.

"We approached the party and asked to stay off the list as a show of strength, unity and confidence in our ability to build on the success that we enjoyed at the last election."

He said Labour winning six of the seven Maori electorate seats at the last election was Maori showing that Labour was the preferred political party to address Maori issues.

"The numbers were in our favour and we're looking to improve. Our election strategy is about showing how the Maori Party has failed Maori during nine years of being tethered to National's waka," Mr Davis said.

"We back ourselves to help Maori make progress on the problems they face in housing, health and education. Labour has five Maori MPs in the shadow cabinet and we're all up to prove why we should have the party vote."

Mr Davis said his promise to the electorate was to serve two terms as cabinet minister so he could make a real difference then seek to stand on the list, with a succession plan in place for a strong candidate to take up the Te Tai Tokerau seat.

"Then if I do a good job as a cabinet minister and Te Tai Tokerau MP I'd get a good place on the list. If I don't do a good job I shouldn't deserve a place [on the list] and will be shown the door."