Transcript
Every Saturday, hundreds of people gather to shop and catch up with family and friends at the Mangere and Otara markets.
Today Labour's leader Jacinda Ardern is visiting Mangere with her red entourage and supporters in tow creating a buzz in the crowd.
Rose* is an older mother who looks like she has the world's weight on her shoulders.
She says she's never heard of Jacinda Ardern but her number one concern is having a place she's proud to call home.
"There is so much. The house needs to be warmer and where I live just over here is not very safe. But the thing is I think our houses need to be warm as it is so cold. So I want to know what she is going to do if I vote for her."
Nathaniel* is from Grey Lynn but he's at the Mangere market for work. He won't say who he will vote for, but he has noticed the effect Labour's new leader is having.
“Polynesian communities have a tendency to vote red when they don't have anything else to vote for so I think the Jacinda mania has really amped up their hopes and stuff. And I think that is a good thing as change needs to come through, but at the same time they need to read up on their policies.”
Ezryus* is 18 and now eligible to vote and he says he's certain of his choice.
"As a young person, part of the youth, we need to raise more awareness with what's going on with our youth? Like suicide and building awareness about that and just trying to keep people at our school and that's where we will need more help.”
Cook Islander Sam* is holding a big pumpkin and he's come to the Mangere market all the way from the Papakura electorate to do his fruit and vege shopping.
He says he's made up his mind who he'll vote for too after Ms Ardern took over the leadership.
"I work in education and mental health and those are two key things for me. And part of mental health is a safe, happy environment and that means good jobs and people being able to afford to live happy and comfortable lives and that is it for me so I think Labour can do that."
Reina* lives in the Mangere electorate and she's now more interested to vote.
"I really believe in being able to have your say and I think it is really important and especially as a young Pacific woman it's an oppporutnity for me to vote for a government that will serve my community and the issues I truly believe in. I absolutely know who I am going to vote for and identify with policies on the left side of the political spectrum so I am pretty sure who I will vote for. "
But not everyone is voting for Labour.
Nafouaina * is an elderly Samoan voter out shopping for his vegetables and backs New Zealand First.
"NZ Party as that is the one where I get my super and I vote the party where I get something for me - Peter, the NZ Party.”
Christian* is a Samoan man in his twenties, and he has given up his Saturday morning to volunteer and support National's campaign.
"One of the things I've just grown up with is this idea that we need someone to come and save us. But I believe as a people, especially as Pacific people we are incredibly blessed and we are able to stand on our own."
Over at the Otara market the Green Party has volunteers out and about.
Shari *, a Niuean, is one of them and she has a message to pass on.
“Being a Pasifika woman, climate change. Currently Niue isn't affected as badly by climate change as some of the other countries, but we won't be far off. Our food supply is already affected. In August all the blossoms get blown off the mango trees because of all the storms so that is first and foremost and secondly because of our stance on poverty.”
Then there are the voters who are on the fence.
Keith* is enrolled to vote in Papatoetoe and is divided between two parties.
"I think I am in between Labour and the Green Party. I think the biggest issue for me would be youth employment. After high school, what is the next step for young people and what's available like in terms of opportunities. "
Shakira* has enrolled to vote in Central Auckland and she is looking at whichever party has the best answer for her concerns.
"Maybe along the lines of education and housing crisis, what are we going to do about the housing crisis? I want to buy a house in 10 years, but can't afford it so how are we going to fix it? "
Stephanie* who's a Papatoetoe voter, knows who will influence her vote.
"The deciding factor for me was thinking about where Pacific can be mainstream and it's not about a Pacific voice necessarily, it is about what that voice can do within that party and so if they are a minority within that party, then I am not really interested. I want to vote for a party who has both our Pacific and Maori cousins at the forefront of their thinking and policy making."
Voting in New Zealand's next general election begins on Monday.
