Poll Shows Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke Preferred Over Te Pāti Māori Leadership

A recent poll indicates that nearly half of Māori voters lack trust in the leadership of Te Pāti Māori, with many preferring Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke as a potential leader. Conducted by Mata-Horizon Research, the survey reveals that 47 percent of Māori voters believe the party is heading in the wrong direction, while over 65 percent consider recent leadership issues as significant factors in their voting decisions.

The poll, part of a broader analysis titled *Te Pāti Māori: A Kaupapa in Crisis*, highlights the ongoing turmoil within the party. In recent months, Te Pāti Māori has faced internal conflicts, including allegations among its MPs and leadership, culminating in the expulsion of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākura Ferris. A High Court interim order has since restored Kapa-Kingi’s membership, pending a full hearing in 2024.

Internal Challenges and Voter Sentiment

Criticism of the current leadership has emerged from former party insiders. Amokura Panoho, a founding member, expressed concerns that recent constitutional changes have shifted authority away from the party’s members to its executive. “Those principles, the tikanga that was established, weren’t just about being words on a paper,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the political aspirations of Māori people.

Jack Tautokai McDonald, a former policy director, acknowledged the party’s accomplishments since its return to Parliament in 2020 but voiced worry that ongoing disputes could jeopardize its future. He remarked, “I feel like that is now all at risk because of the debacle over the last few months.”

Despite the challenges, the poll indicates that voters still want Te Pāti Māori to maintain a presence in Parliament. Of the 328 Māori voters surveyed between December 4 and December 12, only 16 percent expressed they were “unlikely” to support a Te Pāti Māori candidate in future elections.

Leadership Preferences and Future Directions

When asked about preferred leadership, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke emerged as the top choice, with 19 percent of respondents supporting her. The youngest MP in Parliament, she has recently gained recognition as one of the world’s most influential rising stars by *Time* magazine. Following her in the poll were co-leader Rawiri Waititi at 12 percent and Ferris at 11 percent. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer received 7 percent, while Kapa-Kingi garnered 6 percent. Just 5 percent supported party president John Tamihere, and new MP Oriini Kaipara received 3 percent. A significant 37 percent of respondents stated they were undecided or chose “other.”

The party secured six out of seven Māori electorate seats in the last election and initially enjoyed favorable polling this year, bolstered by support for the Toitū Te Tiriti movement. However, internal strife appears to have damaged its standing. The poll found that 67 percent of respondents deemed the recent leadership issues as “very” or “somewhat” important to their voting choices, with only 6 percent unsure.

Political analyst Lara Greaves, an associate professor at Victoria University, commented on the party’s uncertain path to recovery. “I don’t know where things can go from here and how they can bounce back,” she said, noting that the split with the Toitū Te Tiriti movement could alienate younger Māori voters.

Despite the turmoil, Panoho remains hopeful about the party’s future. “The Māori Party was born through courage,” she stated. “If we return to honesty, integrity, and collective leadership, our movement will recover its mana.”

As the political landscape evolves, the upcoming elections may provide an opportunity for Te Pāti Māori to redefine its direction and reconnect with its base. The results of the Mata-Horizon Research poll serve as a crucial indicator of voter sentiment as the party navigates its path forward.