Te Tai Hauauru by-election 2004
The Te Tai Hauauru by-election was a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of Te Tai Hauauru, one of the Maori seats. The date set for the by-election was 10 July, 2004. It saw the re-election of Tariana Turia, a former MP for the Labour Party and now co-leader of the Maori Party. Turia had quit both Parliament and the Labour Party in protest over the government's position in the foreshore and seabed controversy. She contested the by-election as a member of the new Maori Party, which she is playing a leading role in establishing. None of the major parties contested the by-election, and Turia was always the overwhelming favourite to win. Perhaps due to the apparent inevitability of a win for Turia, only around 32% of Te Tai Hauauru voters cast ballots. Nominations for the by-election closed on June 15, 2004. Candidates were: Tariana Turia (Maori Party) Peter Wakeman, a Labour Party member who stood as an independent. Dun Mihaka (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party), a veteran Maori activist best known for baring his buttocks to the Queen on her 1983 Royal Tour of New Zealand. Tahu Nepia, who stood as an independent, but represented the Ratana movement, with the intent of establishing an Independent Ratana Party to contest the next general election. Rusty Kane, an independent who campaigned on the platform that Maori seats should be abolished. David Bolton, independent. If no candidates had been put forward to oppose Turia, she would have been declared the winner without a vote - this initially appeared possible, and given the cost of a by-election (estimated at almost half a million NZ dollars), many hoped that a vote could be avoided. The holding of a by-election was criticised by a number other parties. The Labour Party, which Turia was originally a member of (and which has traditionally dominated the Maori seats) has called the by-election "a waste of time and money", and a "sideshow". Labour has, however, stated that it will contest the seat in the next general election (scheduled for 2005).
Results
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