Why is it that the west coast of the South Island is represented by a Labour MP, when the rest of the island (with the exception of urban areas like Christchurch) is dominated by the National Party? Is the Maori population largely clustered there, or is there another explanation?
Al gave an explanation of the phenomenon (though I'd add ecotourism to the causes of the left-wing orientation on the west coast of the South Island), but, for the record, the vast majority of Maori live on the North Island.
