Can Peeni lose?

Peter Williams writes:

If the voters of Tamaki Makarau send Oriini Kaipara to Parliament this Saturday they need a collective mental health assessment where the first question should be “are you barking mad?”

In the history of New Zealand politics has there ever been such a trainwreck of a serious political candidate as Ms Kaipara?

Consider these scenarios – they have all happened.

On the Tuesday before the final polling day she refuses to answer questions from a TV political reporter – and a Maori female one at that.

She has suggested her main opponent for the seat, Peeni Henare, should be the first Maori Prime Minister, something that is surely unlikely if Mr Henare loses a seat twice in succession after winning it in three consecutive elections from 2014.

Her big set piece interview on TV’s Q and A was a complete disaster. She claimed that Te Pati Maori have repealed various pieces of legislation despite never having been in government and being in opposition since 2023. Only governments repeal legislation.

When asked about an aspect of Te Pati Maori policy she stumbled and mumbled and then, unbelievably, said she needed to refer to her phone to get the right answer – then couldn’t find her phone! 

For someone who has worked in television her performance on Q and A was hopeless.

Peter is correct that Kaipara has performed woefully in the campaign. However this doesn’t mean the majority of by-election voters are aware of this, or even if it will affect their vote.

But if Peeni Henare does manage to lose to her, it will be massively embarrassing for him. It is one thing to lose to the CEO of the local Marae (which happened to host a polling place), but to lose to someone who can’t answer basic questions without checking on their phone would be mortifying.