As the Māori proverb goes, "ko te kai ā te rangatira he kōrero" (the food of leaders is talk), and the seven main political parties have selected representatives to put on a spread for voters in TVNZ’s Kaupapa Māori Debate tonight.
It will be a full house with Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, NZ First MP Shane Jones, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, ACT deputy leader Nicole McGee, National MP Tama Potaka, Labour MP Willie Jackson, and Opportunity Party’s Christchurch candidate Eden Skipper set to take part.
Te Karere presenter Scotty Morrison and 1News Māori Affairs Correspondent Te Aniwa Hurihanganui will co-host the debate from 7.30pm on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+ and 1News.co.nz.
Voters want to see more action to improve Māori health. (Source: 1News)
With seven politicians and only an hour to grill them, Morrison said there won’t be much "fluffing around".
“We’re really going to drill deep into kaupapa Māori that are important to Māori voters according to current polling of them.”
The smallest Māori electorate is grappling with a disproportionately sized cost of living crisis. (Source: 1News)
It should make for "enlightening" viewing for non-Māori too, providing insights into the importance of kaupapa Māori and how it impacts the political landscape of Aotearoa as a country, Morrison said.
“I think it’ll be a fascinating watch for those people and, hopefully, something that, not only will it move fast and have good momentum and good energy, but it will be a vehicle for people to be able to sit in the safety of their homes and engage with what Māori people are thinking and what is concerning to Māori people.”
As the deadline to enrol to vote looms at midnight, young Māori in the Hauraki-Waikato electorate are urging their peers to take their protest cries to the ballot box. (Source: 1News)
Topics of discussion will include Te Triti o Waitangi, the cost of living, the environment, jobs, and te reo Māori.
The debate is the third of four TVNZ will screen before the election, and part of 1News' extensive campaign coverage, including the interactive Vote Compass tool which launched this month.
Earlier this month, the TVNZ Multi-Party Debate had leaders of the five potential kingmaker parties square off over major election issues. The TVNZ Leaders Debate brought National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins to clash over trustworthiness, racism and the cost of living.
Chronic homelessness has emerged as a major focal point. (Source: 1News)
The final debate – intended as a second Leaders Debate, but declined by Luxon – is now the Q+A People's Debate to be held on November 5.
It will put voters' questions to every party that qualifies under TVNZ's debate criteria, including National and Labour. Jack Tame will moderate. You can put forward your questions by filling in a short form here.
All debates screen on 1News.co.nz, TVNZ+, and TVNZ 1 with live updates of the debates on the 1News app and website.
Whatitiri Te Wake of Te Ao Māori and Mani Dunlop of The Post speak to Breakfast about the poll results. (Source: Breakfast)
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