John Key addressed an audience of more than 500 in Auckland yesterday, and was given a rousing and enthusiastic welcome.
Now there's nothing especially noteworthy about that; you'd expect an audience of his rich mates to turn out in force and give the Prime Minister a rousing reception. Except for one thing, as 3News reports:
The Pacific vote is traditionally Labour's, but socially liberal policies like same-sex marriage, driven by Labour, have created a drift.
The Prime Minister is pouncing and believes National is set to secure more Pacific and south Auckland votes in this election than in the past.
Many turned out to see John Key in Mangere, offering hugs, kisses and photos. They even managed to roll out a gold carpet, but there was no red there.
"I can't think of a time where I have been a leader of the National Party where we would have so many people in Mangere turn up for a National Party meeting," says Mr Key. "If you close your eyes you'd be forgiven for thinking you were at a Labour Party meeting, over 500 people in there."
The traditionally Labour Pacific vote is changing, as staunch red voters are now turning blue.
"The vote is turning in south Auckland from Labour to National, that is what is happening," says Mangere community leader Teleiai Edwin Puni. "I can tell you that; I am voting National."
Not since the late Sir Robert Muldoon addressed a crowd of thousands in a Wiri wool store in October 1975 has there been a meeting with this significance. Labour has long seen the Pasifika vote as its by right, but there are signs that is changing as you can see in the image below:
In Peseta Sam Lotu I'iga (Samoan) and Alfred Ngaro (Cook Islands Maori) National already has two MP's of Pasifika heritage. Both men have back-stories of immigrant parents who worked hard, insisted their children got educated, and set high standards for them. Sam Lotu-I'iga and Alfred Ngaro have proved that there is no bar to getting ahead, and are fantastic role models for young Pasifika people to emulate.
And in Mangere itself, National has chosen an excellent candidate with strong community links. Misa Fia Turner was born and raised in Samoa, and has lived in Mangere for nearly twenty years. She is the co-founder and Clinical Manager of ‘Malu I Uo Faatuatua Family Relationship Services, providing counselling, family therapy, clinical and cultural supervision, facilitation and mediation, training and mentoring. She is also Clinical Practice Manager for Genesis Youth Trust, a Police Youth Development Programme working with youth at risk and families with a focus on reducing youth crime and re-offending.And significantly, she has not always been a National Party supporter. She told 3News she and her family had always been Labour supporters, but this year she is standing for National.Misa Fia Turner may not unseat Su'a William Sio in Mangere. But we are sure that she will take a sizeable chunk out of his majority, and will ensure that National's share of the party vote increases significantly. In a close election, even a small shift away from Labour to National in electorates with a high concentration of Pasifika voters could be crucial, especially if there is continued unease about Labour's commitment to Pacific migration.
The days of National being pale, male and stale are a thing of the past. There growing reach into Pasifika New Zealand is evidence of that.
