Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has officially cast her vote at Te Awa Mall in Te Rapa, marking a pivotal moment in the Hauraki-Waikato race as early voting picks up momentum.
Reflecting on the milestone and the broader political landscape over the past term, Maipi-Clarke shared her thoughts directly after leaving the voting booth:
“It feels relieving especially after everything we’ve endured as a people from this government not just like from this election but I’m reflecting on the whole three years with all the legislation that has come through and we’ve gotten to this point where we can get to the voting booths.”
She also noted the global context surrounding this year’s electoral activity, adding:
“Also I’ve been really inspired by the different elections that are happening around the world as well.”
Standing as the incumbent MP for Te Pāti Māori, Maipi-Clarke continues to urge voters on the Māori roll to deliver a strong candidate vote to ensure robust Māori representation in Parliament.