Council endorses Nanaia Mahuta as the next Labour leader



Te Kaunihera Māori endorse the Hon Nanaia Mahuta as the next Labour Party leader

Te Kaunihera Māori, the Māori Council of the New Zealand Labour Party, have passed a resolution to endorse the Hon Nanaia Mahuta as the next leader of the Labour Party.

Te Kaunihera Māori hosted the four leadership contenders at Ratana Pa on 18 October 2014 and met in committee to deliberate the attributes of each contender, and the characteristics each person brought to the rebuild of the Labour Party.

Te Kaunihera Māori considered that the attributes of the future leader had to have a proven track record of building a united team, the ability to articulate a clear vision based on core Labour values, the wisdom to listen and learn from the 2014 election results, the courage to make radical changes to align the party with the people, and the ability to be relevant to Māori and non-Māori voters.

Daniel Phillips, Chairperson of Te Kaunihera Māori said:

“Te Kaunihera Māori was honoured to host the four leadership candidates for the New Zealand Labour Party at Ratana Pa over the weekend. Given the political history and symbolism of the Labour Party and Māori voters at Ratana Pa, it was fitting that the leadership contenders met with the Māori Council to deliver their messages of unity and rebuilding the Party to serve the needs of New Zealand moving forward to the 2017 election at Ratana Pa.

“Te Kaunihera Māori resolved that the new Labour leader must have the ability to listen and connect to the heart of our communities, a track record of enhancing the lives of Māori and all New Zealanders and is committed to the core Labour values of creating opportunities for all.

“We met to consider the attributes of each of the candidates after the presentation and it was agreed that Te Kaunihera Māori endorse the Hon Nanaia Mahuta as the next leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.

“Te Kaunihera Māori consider that it is important that we acknowledge that the trust of Māoridom has been placed in the Labour Party and the Māori members of the Labour caucus, by successfully winning six of the seven Māori electorate seats.

“Nanaia is an extremely competent leader who has successfully held the Hauraki-Waikato electorate seat for the last five general elections, she is currently the Senior Vice-President Māori of the Party and leads the Māori caucus. Nanaia is the longest serving Māori member of Parliament.

“Nanaia showed her leadership and strategic abilities in the Māori campaign for the electorate seat gaining 6 of the 7 Māori electorates – a feat that has not been achieved in over a decade for Labour. Nanaia is also the only leadership contender that won both the candidate and the party vote in her electorate.

“Te Kaunihera Maori did not just endorse Nanaia because she is Maori. It was her proven track record as an advocate for the working poor and grass roots communities, her ability to unite a team and her strategic vision for the Party and New Zealand that were critical in our decision to endorse her.

“The Labour Party is in a time of rebuilding and the four candidates bring a wealth of competencies to the new face of the Party moving forward. We are encouraged by the calibre of those who have raised their hands to lead the Party and on a balance of a wide range of considerations, we consider that Nanaia Mahuta is in the best person to lead the New Zealand Labour Party forward.”

ENDS

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