Hone survives - by the skin of his teeth
Final results are in.
UPDATE 9pm: Final results - Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has won the Te Tai Tokerau by-election. With all votes counted tonight he had gained 5611 against 4744 for Labour candidate Kelvin Davis - a majority of 790.
Maori Party candidate Solomon Tipene was third with 1026 votes.
At the 2008 general election, Mr Harawira (then standing for the Maori Party) received 12,019 votes to 5,611.for Mr Davis.
A total 11,606 votes were cast today's byelection, about a third of nearly 33,000 registered voters in the Maori roll electorate which stretches from Kaitaia down to Auckland's suburbs.
Mana Party leader Hone Harawira holds an unbeatable lead in the Te Tai Tokerau by-election.
With just one polling place to be counted tonight he had gained 5372 votes, with Labour's Kelvin Davis second on 4582.
Maori Party candidate Solomon Tipene was a distant third with 1003 votes.
Mr Harawira caused the by-election by resigning his seat in Parliament after leaving the Maori Party because he considered it had become too close to the Government and was supporting anti-Maori legislation.
He wants to return to Parliament with a new mandate as leader of the Mana Party he has formed.
Mr Harawira started his victory speech at his campaign headquarters before the final count was in.
At the 2008 general election, Mr Harawira (then standing for the Maori Party) received 12,019 votes to 5,611.for Mr Davis.
NZPA
Sat, 25 Jun 2011
Sat, 25 Jun 2011
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Hone survives - by the skin of his teeth
15485