OCTOBER 22 2008
Te Tai Hauauru Voters Support Turia In Maori Television Poll
A political poll commissioned by Maori Television shows that Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia commands the bulk of
the support in Te Tai Hauauru. Almost eight out of 10 (79 per cent) of Maori voters surveyed in this electorate support
Turia as their local MP while the only other main candidate, Errol Mason (Labour), gathers 19 per cent of the electorate
vote.
At the party vote level, however, the Labour Party (47 per cent) holds a strong lead over the Maori Party (33 per cent).
This result contrasts with Maori Television’s previous two polls in the electorates of Tamaki Makaurau and Waiariki
where support for Labour and the Maori Party was much more evenly split. Back in Te Tai Hauauru, National wins just 10
per cent of Maori votes while NZ First (five per cent) and the Greens (four per cent) attract similar levels of party
vote.
Less than a fifth (18 per cent) of this electorate’s sample of 500 Maori voters are still undecided or would not vote.
But amongst the youngest voters, aged between 18-24 years, 31 per cent have yet to make up their mind as to which party
they would support.
The special analysis of Maori voters’ opinions of political parties, electoral candidates and issues in Te Tai Hauauru
was unveiled tonight (Wednesday October 22) on KOWHIRI ’08 – a series of political programmes screening on Maori
Television every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8.30 PM until November 5. The next political poll will focus on the Maori
electorate of Te Tai Tokerau (Tuesday October 28) followed by Te Tai Tonga (Wednesday October 29); Hauraki Waikato
(Tuesday November 4); and Ikaroa Rawhiti (Wednesday November 5).
Prepared by Baseline Consultancy and TNS Direct, the research in Te Tai Hauauru polled 500 voter eligible Maori voters
registered on Te Tai Hauauru Maori roll between October 9 to 17 2008. The maximum margin of error is 4.5 per cent. More
than a third (35 per cent) of this sample prefers Helen Clark to be their Prime Minister. Support for Clark is strong
amongst the young voters (18-24 years, 42 per cent). There is also above average support for Clark as PM in the over-55
age group (46 per cent).
Tariana Turia is the next most preferred option for Prime Minister (11 per cent) with Winston Peters (nine per cent) and
Pita Sharples (eight per cent) following close behind. Only six per cent of this Maori electorate would choose John Key
to be Prime Minister. Again, there is a relatively high proportion (22 per cent) of voters who have no opinion as to
which politician would be the best Prime Minister.
Similar to the other two electorates, the following four issues are rated as the most pressing for Maori in Te Tai
Hauauru: access to quality education for their children (90 per cent – very important); a sense that people can feel
safe in their homes or out on the street (89 per cent); positive future for their children (88 per cent); and access to
affordable quality health services (82 per cent). Of secondary importance are the issues of: good jobs in my area (70
per cent – very important); fair settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims (66 per cent); and access to affordable quality
housing in my area (64 per cent).
The Labour Party’s relatively strong party vote is supported by a fairly widespread belief amongst the local sample that
Labour will, more than any other party, provide good jobs locally (46 per cent) and deliver quality health (45 per
cent), housing (42 per cent) and education (42 per cent). Also of note is that these Te Tai Hauauru voters were also
more likely to view the Labour Party (40 per cent) than the Maori Party (29 per cent) as being able to do the best job
of ensuring a positive future for their children.
MMP VOTING – PARTY VOTE: If a general election was held yesterday, which political party would you have voted for?
Political Party
Party Vote %
Labour
47
Maori Party
33
National
10
NZ First
5
Green Party
4
Progressive
-
ACT
0.2
United Future
-
Alliance
-
All others
0.2
Base (those with an opinion)
412
Don’t know/undecided
17
Would not vote
1
Total Sample
500
PREFERRED ELECTORAL CANDIDATE – TE TAI HAUAURU:
Te Tai Hauauru Candidate
Candidate %
Tariana Turia (Maori Party)
79
Errol Mason (Labour Party)
19
Other
2
Base (those with an opinion)
458
None
2
Don’t know
6
Total Sample
500
PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER:
Main candidates
Total %
Helen Clark
35
Tariana Turia
11
Winston Peters
9
Pita Sharples
8
John Key
6
Tim Barnett
2
Jeanette Fitzsimmons
1
Others (less than 0.5%)
6
None
3
Don’t know
19
Base
500
IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR MAORI VOTERS IN TE TAI HAUAURU:
Issue
Very important %
Quite important %
Not that important %
Of no importance to me %
Don’t know not applicable %
Quality education for my children
90
6
1.2
0.8
1.6
Access to affordable quality health services
82
16
1.4
0.4
0.4
Fair settlement of treaty claims
66
22
8
2.4
1.4
Good jobs in my area
70
23
5
0.8
0.8
Access to affordable, quality housing in my area
64
25
8
1.4
1.8
People can feel safe in their homes or out on the street
89
9
1.2
0.6
0.4
My children will have a positive future
88
9
1
0.8
1.2
Base: 500
WHICH POLITICAL PARTY MAORI VOTERS BELIEVE WOULD DO THE BEST JOB OF DELIVERING ON THESE ISSUES:
Issue
Labour Party
%
Maori Party
%
National Party
%
NZ First
%
Green Party
%
None
%
Don’t know
%
Your children receive quality education
42
28
11
1
3
3
13
You can access affordable quality health services
45
27
7
1
3
2
15
There is fair settlement of treaty claims
24
59
3
0.6
1
3
10
There are good jobs in my area
46
18
12
2
1
4
18
Access to affordable, quality housing in my area
42
26
7
1
2
5
17
People can feel safe in their homes or out on the street
32
23
15
4
2
7
16
Your children will have a positive future
40
29
8
2
7
3
11
Base: 500
WHICH TE TAI HAUAURU CANDIDATE WOULD MAORI VOTERS ASSOCIATE WITH THESE STATEMENTS:
Statements
Tariana Turia (Maori Party)
%
Errol Mason (Labour)
%
None
%
Don’t know
%
Can be trusted
69
14
6
15
Will deliver on promises
67
17
4
16
Knows the needs of the local people
74
14
3
15
Is experienced in politics
76
13
2
12
Is a capable leader
74
13
4
13
Would be good in a crisis
68
17
4
16
Has lots of personality
73
12
4
16
Base: 500
Maori Television’s coverage of the 2008 General Election – KOWHIRI ’08 – is co-hosted by Native Affairs presenter Julian
Wilcox and Te Kaea political reporter Tina Wickliffe and includes expert commentary from panellists Ms Sandra Lee and Dr
Ann Sullivan as well as additional observations by political scientist Dr Maria Bargh and Dr Ranginui Walker. It screens
every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8.30 PM until November 5 with live-to-air election night coverage on Saturday November 8
from 8.00 PM. For more information, go to the website www.maoritelevision.com.
ENDS