12 Oct 2008

Survey has Maori Party leading in two electorates

11:02 am on 12 October 2008

The latest Marae-Digipoll surveys suggest the Maori Party is ahead in both the Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau seats.

In Tamaki Makaurau 77% of the surveyed voters picked the Maori Party's Pita Sharples, compared to 13.5% for the nearest contender - Labour's Louisa Wall.

In that electorate 41% also said they would give their party vote to the Maori Party, while 37.5% backed Labour.

In Te Tai Tokerau 69% of those surveyed said they would pick the Maori Party's Hone Harawira compared with 26% support for Labour's Kelvin Davis.

And the Maori Party gained 47% of the party vote from those surveyed in that electorate, compared with 34.5% for Labour.

In both electorates 71% of those surveyed said they would agree to the Maori Party forming a coalition with Labour.

A total of 400 voters were surveyed in each of the two electorates between 15 September and 7 October.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9%.