The leader of the Opportunities Party claims the two big parties have "pulled back" in the Christchurch seat of Ilam, paving the way for him to get into Parliament.
TOP leader Raf Manji told 1News that the National candidate has not run a campaign in the electorate and that the Labour incumbent has “disappeared”.
"I think they probably think: ‘Okay, we don’t mind if Raf wins’."
He said Labour would prefer if TOP won Ilam rather than National, and that National wants another coalition option to New Zealand First.
His party needs to win the seat to achieve any electoral success, given the latest 1News Verian poll puts TOP at 2% which is below the 5% threshold.
“We're really optimistic, the feedback on the ground is fantastic," he said.
"We’ve got students queuing out the door to vote, the grandmas are out voting, and there’s just a sense that this is the only fun story this election."
Manji added: "Obviously all the talk has been about New Zealand First — it looks like they will be back in Parliament and it looks like at the moment the only option for National-ACT. We will provide an alternative option one that is quite sensible and pragmatic."
Whena Owen reports on the fascinating three-way contest shaping up in Ilam, where former Christchurch councillor Raf Manji is trying to break the hold of Labour and National over the seat. (Source: 1News)
Labour's Ilam candidate Sarah Pallett burst into laughter when the idea was put to her, and said "he wishes".
She said her campaign was 100% full steam ahead and she was quietly confident of retaining Ilam, after taking it off National’s Gerry Brownlee at the last election.
“I’ve always said that Raf would split the vote and a vote for Raf was a vote for Hamish."
Meanwhile, National candidate Hamish Campbell said his party's leader Christopher Luxon has been clear that there is no deal in Ilam.
He said he was running a really strong campaign and had knocked on the doors of over 15,000 homes. When asked if Manji was dreaming, Campbell said he was just focused on getting as many votes as possible for National.
National's campaign chairman Chris Bishop said National had "repeatedly rebuffed Raf Manji’s begging".
"If you are in Ilam and want a change of government, please vote for Hamish Campbell and National. A vote for Raf Manji is a vote for Labour.”
TOP started campaigning in February, promising a "Teal Card" for young people which would provide fully-funded health care and public transport.
Canterbury University is in the Ilam electorate.
The party has also proposed a $1 billion investment package for Christchurch, including a $130 million zero-emission bus fleet and a $70 million roading and footpath repair fund.
Manji said: “We've put so much effort into this and now we're at the end it's time to just relax a bit and enjoy those last few days."
The TOP leader joins Q+A to discuss his party’s plans for immigration reform and Manji’s run in the Christchurch seat of Ilam. (Source: 1News)
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