23 Sep 2011

Honeymaker to stand for Mana in Ikaroa-Rawhiti

7:04 pm on 23 September 2011

The Mana Party has chosen a former oil rig worker and honeymaker as its candidate to contest the eastern North Island Maori seat of Ikaroa-Rawhiti in November's election.

Tawhai McClutchie says the environment, the Treaty of Waitangi and the land are his top three passions and concerns.

As a young man he spent 15 years working on oil platforms in Europe, Asia and the Pacific - but today he's opposed to energy exploration in the Raukumara Basin.

He now runs an organics company on the East Coast.

Ruatoria-born Mr McClutchie says he will focus on trying to attract votes from young and old people - who want help with health and housing.

He joins the Maori Party candidate, Na Raihania, in trying to take the seat won in 2008 by Labour's Parekura Horomia.