4 Sep 2013

Maori Council says Cunliffe has wider appeal for Labour leadership

7:33 pm on 4 September 2013

The Maori Council says David Cunliffe has a wider appeal than Shane Jones and Grant Robertson for the Labour Party leadership.

The three men are contesting the role left vacant by David Shearer who resigned last month.

Maori Council co-chair Maanu Paul says the younger contender Grant Robertson is attempting to create a new regime and Shane Jones has obvious Maori appeal.

But he doesn't think the Labour Party is prepared for a possible Maori Prime Minister.

Mr Paul says that as an opponent of the Government David Cunliffe has more mainstream appeal than the other two hopefuls, and this country needs him.