Polling Booths asked to treat Maori voters with respect
Posted on September 18, 2014 by admin in Hone Harawira, Press Releases“Polling booths without Maori roll voting papers, Maori people not being offered assistance to vote, people getting sent from Whangarei to Wellsford to vote, Maori people getting turned away from voting because they didn’t have their ‘easy vote’ card, Maori people being treated like they don’t deserve to be in the polling booth, polling booth supervisors telling Maori voters that they can’t vote at a certain polling booth, disabled people being told they have to go somewhere else to cast a vote – and that’s just during the early day voting when less than 20% of the polling booths are open!”, said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP, Hone Harawira.
I am getting all of these horror stories from staff, whanau, friends and even from people voting for somebody else, and I want to make sure it doesn’t happen on election day”, said Harawira.
“We have notified the election supervisors of problems that have occurred already but the ongoing and widespread nature of many of the problems means I have to up the ante on election day in defence of Maori voters.”
“So I have told my organisers and scrutineers to respond immediately to any actions that may put Maori voters off from having their say, and to nip any irregularities in the bud early.”
“I don’t want to wait till after the election to find out that Maori people were put off from voting. I want to know on the day and I intend to take action.”
“As far as I know, any Maori voter can vote in any polling booth, anywhere in the country, on election day” said Harawira “and I am asking every polling booth supervisor to remember that on voting day.”
“I will be travelling right throughout my electorate on voting day and I will make sure my people respond positively to any action that discriminates against Maori voters.”
aaron says:
Post Author September 18, 2014 at 9:50 pmLabour stand for nothing, have no strategy are weak as piss and are treacherous, they would rather beat up a potential ally or themselves than land a punch on National. As bad and corrupt as National are Labour are an equally unattractive alternative. Mana and the Greens are the only parties with decency who are genuinely working for a fairer better country.
Antony says:
Post Author September 19, 2014 at 3:55 pmVoted yesterday in Wellsford (at the town hall) on the Maori Roll. Am happy to say they were organised and had everything in order for me to do so. The staff were polite and respectful not only for me but the koro and kuia (Maori and Pakeha) that were there voting also. The other sites could take a lesson from this place.
Nga Mihi
tahi says:
Post Author September 21, 2014 at 9:22 amOh well , we now have kelvin the white mans puppet for the nextb4 yrs