Early votes cast in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election put Labour’s Meka Whaitiri on 842 votes a majority of 223 over Mana’s Te Hāmua Nikora with 619 votes. The Maori Party’s Na Rongowhakaata Raihania was a distant third with 365.
This was the release of just over 2000 votes pre-cast and counted by the Electoral Commission just after 7pm.
The vacancy was created by the death of the sitting Labour MP Parekura Horomia.
In 2011 Parekura Horomia held the seat with 10,558 votes, a majority of 6,541 over the Maori Party’s Na Raihania with 4,017 votes. Mana’s Tawhai McClutchie came third with 2,484.
Final results are
expected around
10pm.