National Party targets Māngere as Labour stronghold faces cost-of-living pressure

Māngere remains one of Labour’s strongest seats but National’s candidate says shifting pressures on families could open the door to change.

The National Party’s candidate for Māngere, Rosemary Bourke, says the electorate’s long-held Labour seat is now genuinely contestable.

Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Bourke argues voters are rethinking old loyalties as cost-of-living pressures dominate the lead-up to this year’s election.

“If we go back to the last election, you would see there was movement,” Bourke says. “Our community is thinking about what’s best.

“So, traditionally Labour or the left, but we can say that they're looking and wanting to see if someone else, hopefully me, would be the right person for them to vote for in this general election.”

However, Māngere has only ever been held by Labour MPs since it was created in 1963. They include former Prime Minister David Lange, former Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, and current MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene.

At the 2023 general election, Lemauga retained the seat by more than 10,000 votes, which underlined the size of Labour’s hold in the electorate.

National’s electorate vote in Māngere increased between the last two elections, rising from 3708 in 2020 to 5585 in 2023 under former candidate Agnes Loheni while Labour continues to hold the seat by a large margin.

Watch Rosemary Bourke's full interview below.

A resident of Māngere for over 30 years, Bourke says cost of living is driving political frustration in the community.

She identified cost of living as the biggest issue facing local families.

“It’s still the cost of living, those pain points. Paying those bills, paying the rent and having enough money to put food on the table.”

Labour MP Jenny Salesa says the coalition government is not doing enough to support Pacific families facing pressure from rising costs.

Salesa says the government’s fuel relief package would not help many families, students, and workers still struggling.

Her comments follow the government’s announcement of a temporary boost for low-to-middle-income working families with children as households face rising fuel, food, and everyday costs.

Watch Jenny Salesa's full interview below.

From 7 April, about 143,000 will get an extra $50 a week through the in-work tax credit.

The payment will last up to one year or until the price of 91 octane petrol drops below $3 a litre for four straight weeks.

“We believe it’s not going to address the issue for the majority of our people,” Salesa tells Terite.

“I'm still getting phone calls and emails from our constituents, students and workers who do not qualify for this particular assistance.”

Salesa also questioned the lack of Pacific representation inside the coalition government, saying there are currently no Pacific MPs in National, ACT or New Zealand First ministerial ranks.

The National Party has confirmed three Pacific candidates running in electorates at the upcoming election; Bourke in Māngere, Loheni in Waitākere, and Angee Nicholas in Te Atatū.

Māngere is based around the South Auckland suburbs of Māngere, Māngere Bridge, Favona and Māngere East. It has existed as an electorate since 1969. Photo/Supplied

“If they valued our Pacific people and the Pacific people's votes, they would ensure that there is one of their members in government or listed high enough to get in on the list if they don't win an electorate,” Salesa said.

Bourke acknowledged many Pacific voters want stronger representation but said community service matters more than titles or positions.

She said stronger Pacific representation would come if voters backed candidates like herself.

“If you’re voting because of family allegiance… get to know the other options that are out there representing you, listening to you and trying to connect to you.

“I'm hoping this year that as I get out there more, first I was in 2023 as a candidate, so I'm hoping that they can come up to me and ask me those questions.”