Tua boxing clever with two parties

Former boxer David Tua is in hot demand - he has talked with the Maori Party about entering politics, and Hone Harawira's Mana Party has talks scheduled with him next month.

Tua, a Samoan-born New Zealander, met Maori Party officials in Auckland this week.

Mana, a break-away from the Maori Party, has him in its sights too.

Both see him as a potential drawcard for thousands of Pacific Island voters in New Zealand.

Next month, he will meet South Auckland Mana activist and candidate James Papali'i, with the approval of Mr Harawira.

"He has given us his blessing to talk with David and hopefully him coming over to Mana," Mr Papali'i told the Weekend Herald.

"We are already established as a South Auckland Pacific branch under Mana and we believe David would fit really well into what we have already started."

Both the Maori Party and Mana see a place for Tua standing in a South Auckland general seat, possibly Manukau East, which will be vacated by retiring Labour MP Ross Robertson next election.

Despite being seen as Maori entities, Mana and the Maori Party have fielded candidates of various races in general seats.