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Thursday, April 16, 2026

David Farrar: Are Labour trying to throw the seat to Te Pati Maori?


Radio NZ reported:

Labour has selected the former Auckland councillor and mayoral candidate Kerrin Leoni to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau seat.

The Auckland electorate is currently held by Te Pāti Māori’s Oriini Kaipara – who bested Labour’s Peeni Henare in last year’s by-election.

Ms Leoni was the first wahine Māori elected to the Auckland council – serving from 2022 to 2025.

She unsuccessfully ran against Wayne Brown for mayor last year.

She got just 23% of the vote against Brown. She was described by Labour MP Phil Twyford as not credible. Yet she is now their candidate in a seat they declare they want to win back.

I wonder if this is a cunning plot by Willie Jackson to help his old mate JT old, by ensuring Te Pati Maori retain their seats?

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.

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