- Rahui Katene (Māori Party) is ahead of Rino Tirikatene (Labour) despite predictions that she will lose the seat

- Labour is the preferred party (36%), ahead of Māori Party (25%)

- John Key is preferred Prime Minister

- Pita Sharples is most favoured Māori MP

- 55% say government isn’t heading in the right direction

- 46% say their whanau is worse off under the current government

STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 4PM MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2011
Te Karere DigiPoll – Te Tai Tonga
Poll Dates: 23rd Oct – 17th Nov 2011
Sample size: 400 Māori roll voters
Margin of error: +/- 4.9%

PARTY VOTE
Labour 36%
Māori Party 25%
National 15%
Greens 12%
Mana 7%
NZ First 3%

ELECTORATE VOTE
Rahui Katene 46%
Rino Tirikatene 35%
Dora Langsbury 10%
Clinton Dearlove 9%

Note from DigiPoll: The poll results after weights shows that Rahui Katene may retain this seat. The Labour candidate is closely behind and enjoys higher support from 40-59 age group. Rahui Katene seems to have strong support from 18-39 group. These voters do tend to change sides at the last moment and also there is tendency of low voter turnout in this age group. So these two factors can work in favour of Rino Tirikatene.

PREFERRED PRIME MINISTER
John Key 29%
Phil Goff 10%
Pita Sharples 6%
Metiria Turei 6%
Tariana Turia 4%
Hone Harawira 4%

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
Do you think the government is heading in the right direction?
Yes 35%
No 55%
Don’t Know 10%

MOST FAVOURED MAORI MP
Pita Sharples 26%
Hone Harawira 11%
Tariana Turia 10%
Rahui Katene 8%
Metiria Turei 4%
Shane Jones 4%

MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES
What is the most important election issue for you?

Jobs 15%
Education 13%
Economy 11%
Privatisation/ State owned assets sale 10%

WELL BEING
Do you feel your whānau is better or worse off under the current government?

Better 22%
Worse 46%
No difference 32%

ENDS

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