Rural Vote Battle Heats Up as Parties Recruit High-Profile Farming Figures
The battle for the rural vote is on and parties are securing high profile names to try and bolster their chances at the general election.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins is dampening down claims of internal disagreement over working with the party, with his own MPs’ comments adding confusion.
Hipkins has repeatedly refused to rule either in or out whether Labour would consider forming a government with the Maori Party.
However, Labour’s Maori campaign chair Willie Jackson indicated the gulf between the parties was more to do with policy.
Labour is hoping to cash in on Maori Party in-fighting to win back several Maori seats.
Labour cannot topple the National-led Coalition with just the Greens. But Chippy’s key to the top job may depend on how the Maori Party saga unfolds in the coming months.
