By 3 News online staff
Ousted MP Hone Harawira says the recount he asked for in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate was about the 1000 disqualified Maori special votes – not getting his seat back.
Mr Harawira was granted the judicial recount earlier this week, of which the results came back yesterday.
The margin of his loss to Labour MP Kelvin Davis increased by two votes in the recount, but Mr Harawira says that isn't the point.
"When I applied for a recount of the votes from the Tai Tokerau election, I made it clear that this application was not aimed at overturning the election result, but ensuring that all votes cast by Maori were treated with due respect, regardless of whether those votes are for Labour, Maori Party or Mana," he says.
"[It was] about the hundreds of voters who simply didn't get their vote counted, despite actually trying to."
Mr Harawira says 1000 Maori special votes in Te Tai Tokerau were disallowed for a number of reasons, including people moving addresses though still remaining within the electorate, although enrolled people were cut off because of out-of-date information and though they'd voted in the past there was no record of their enrolment.
He is surprised no other party has asked for a recount in a Maori electorate before, "particularly given the widespread concern about people not voting".
"That's why I am proud of the effort and the expense that Mana has put into this exercise to try to ensure our people's votes are treated with more respect in future."
He said there are still a number of issues facing Maori voters, including polling booths without Maori roll voting papers, people being turned away because their name wasn't on the roll or they didn't have their easy vote card and some having to travel more than 40km to vote.
Mr Harawira thanked Judge Tom Broadmore who oversaw the recount, electoral officials and scrutineers from Mana and Labour for taking part.
He urged people who want to know if their special votes counted to contact the Electoral Commission on 0800 367656.
3 News
source: newshub archive
