Labour's candidate for Te Tai Tokerau Kelvin Davis says he can't afford to soft-pedal in his campaign for the northern Maori seat.
If the sitting MP Hone Harawira is re-elected, he could take up to five MPs with him into Parliament, providing significant support for Labour.
But Mr Davis said Labour needed to win 29 percent of the party vote for him to get in as a list MP and he was not willing to rely on that after just missing the cut in 2011.
He said he was the one person in Parliament who knew not to rely on the party vote.
Mr Davies said although he expects Labour to poll well, he is not taking that for granted.
Mana leader Hone Harawira won Te Tai Tokerau by more than 1100 votes in 2011.
Hone Harawira declares support for Ngati Hine
Mr Harawira has declared his support for Ngati Hine in its stand for a separate Treaty settlement.
Ngati Hine hapu are boycotting the government-mandated authority, Tuhoronuku, saying the runanga-led body has no mandate to negotiate their claims.
Mr Harawira's mother Titewhai has been a staunch defender of Tuhoronuku, and one settlement for all Ngapuhi.
But the Mana leader and Te Tai Tokerau MP told a hui in Moerewa last night he had arrived at a different view.
He admitted that it was difficult for him because of his mother's support for Tuhoronuku.
Mr Harawira said he personally was a great supporter of Ngapuhi-nui-tonu (the wider iwi) but he said the tribe itself would get strong if the sub-tribes were weak.
