Toti Tupa not standing

Rumours that National Environment Service Director Vaitoti Tupa is to stand as an Independent in the Matavera electorate are unconfirmed. The Times spoke with Tupa on Friday morning and he said he had been approached by a group of people who asked him to stand as an Independent. He said he considered the matter but decided against it. Had he stood, Tupa would probably have the best chance of all the Independents of being elected considering the outcome of his run off against Kiriau Turepu for the CIP candidature. In that run off, while Kiriau won by nearly 100 votes, 450 were registered to vote but 100 did not show up.

-Charles Pitt

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
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