By Justin Latif, RNZ Pacific news editor
A senior Green MP says Pasifika voters have rewarded those with a track record of dealing with their issues.
Teanau Tuiono, a Cook Islander, will return to Parliament on the list after the Green Party achieved another record high in the polls.
He said the Green’s message had resonated with Pasifika voters nationwide.
“They see the work that we’ve been doing over the last three years, whether that’s shepherding through the restoration of Samoan citizenship bill, whether it’s supporting Pacific visa waiver access into Aotearoa or New Zealand, and all those other things as well,” he said.
“My message to our Pasifika communities is, regardless of who is in government, to continue to hold us all to account to make sure that we all work hard to do the best for our Pasifika communities.”
Labour’s MP for Māngere Auckland, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, said she had never taken the result for granted.
Following the preliminary results from Saturday night, Lemauga received 14,815 votes — almost 12,000 more than the next best placed candidate.
Labour still strong in South Auckland
She said Labour was still very strong in South Auckland.
“In South Auckland you’ll still see quite a vote for Labour between Māngere, Manurewa and Otahuhu and so what that means is — while it’s wonderful to have our community support — we’ve got to work really hard for our people.”
New Zealand First’s Alfred Ngaro said his return to Parliament had been six years in the making.
New Zealand First won no electorates, but secured a party vote increase and will have 12 MPs in Parliament with 9.8 percent of the vote, if preliminary results hold.
Ngaro — a former Pacific Peoples minister in a National government — said everyone gave it their all and he expected the special votes to increase his party’s vote.
“The most important poll is what’s we’re seeing on the ground, and I believe there will be a growing number of support and we’re looking forward to NZ First getting to double digits in the party vote.”
He added that he had heard from many Pacific voters on the campaign trail who had switched their votes to NZ First from Labour.
‘Time for change’
“Traditional voters for Labour have told me they believe it’s time for change and we’ve seen that at the public meetings — our Pacific community are saying actions always speak louder than words.”
Following the preliminary results from Saturday night, Labour’s Barbara Edmonds received 17,294 votes for her Kenepuru electorate which she looks well set to retain.
Edmonds, who is Labour’s finance spokesperson, has emphasised the life journeys of Pacific people who migrated to New Zealand seeking better opportunities for future generations.
“They worked incredibly hard on the shop floors and admin roles to ensure that the next generation could get ahead. If I can become the first Pacific Minister of Finance for Aotearoa, New Zealand, that is a reflection of all our generations of Pacific workers and their hard work to get our generation ahead.”
The final election results will be known last this month after the special votes are counted.
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