It's more bad news for the Government, with a decent chunk of its Māori voter base planning to walk away from the Labour Party at the next election.
The Hui, with Horizon Research, has carried out its first poll of the year, finding that while the majority of Māori voters remain loyal to the party, 17 percent have indicated some sort of switch away from Labour.
The poll found that while Labour is still well ahead for Māori voters on 37 percent, that's a significant decline from the 54 percent of respondents who had given their party vote to Labour in 2020.
As inflation begins to bite, 72 percent say the cost of living is the main issue they will vote on, followed by housing and health.
While Labour has fallen in The Hui's poll, both Te Pāti Māori and the National Party have failed to pick up those votes, registering just 11 percent each.
But National's Shane Reti says he's heartened by the poll.
"With food prices going up 13 percent and rent by $140 per week, the Māori love affair with Labour is well and truly over."
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer agrees, saying the poll shows "we are challenging some of our traditional mindsets".
"The red wave is well and truly over and it's a good sign," she says.
Meanwhile, the highest-rated Māori politician in the poll is Green Party co-leader Marama Davison on 31 percent.
She told The Hui that any support from Māori is always welcome, and says the main thing for her is to continue doing the mahi she was voted in to do.
Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho and the Public Interest Journalism Fund.
