Labour head office blamed for Tamaki Makaurau debacle

The Herald reported:

Labour’s chances of a strong showing in the vacant Maori seat of Tamaki Makaurau are diminishing after broadcaster Julian Wilcox’s confirmation that he was not a contender left the party with only a single nomination. …

Tamaki Makaurau Labour electorate committee member Shane Te Pou said he was gutted that Mr Wilcox did not put his hand up for Labour.

“Head office has got a lot to answer for here. This whole process has been politically mismanaged. We are now about 100 days away from an election and we don’t have a candidate in … one of the most, if not the most crucial seat in the country.”

He said Labour should have at least six nominations for the seat, but the selection process was not open enough and was too dependent on “shoulder-tapping”.

This is giving the Maori Party an enhanced chance of winning the seat.

The Maori Party has chosen Rangi McLean as its candidate. The Greens have chosen Marama Davidson, a former Human Rights Commission educator.

Davidson is an articulate candidate who could do well, and help split the anti-Maori Party vote between Labour, Greens and Mana. She is not campaigning for the electorate vote, but Green candidates often gets significant levels of electorate votes – even if not asking for them.

Was going to stand for Labour in Tamaki Makaurau at the next election but then I remembered I had to crush my nuts in a vice #priorities

Mike King commenting on Twitter.