The race for East Coast electorate Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is wide open, after Meka Whaitiri's shock defection to Te Pāti Māori. Whaitiri (Ngā iwi o te Tai Rāwhiti, Ngāti Kahungunu) has held the seat for the last 10 years but may have scuppered her chances of another term by switching tickets at the last minute. She was up against Labour's new candidate Cushla Tangaere-Manuel (Ngāti Porou), who came from a rugby governance and media background and was not on Labour's list. Both women met at Ōrongomai Marae in Upper Hutt for a candidates debate facilitated by the PSA union and political commentator and former Labour staffer Shane Te Pou.

https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/two-trying-for-ikaroa-rawhiti-meet-in-debate

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