WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s indigenous Maori minority went into elections Saturday inspired by Barack Obama’s victory in the United States and with a chance of securing the balance of power at home.
Obama’s election as the first African-American president reverberated across the world as a triumph over stereotypes, a chord that rang especially true for minority groups.
“I think that’s a message to the whole world, that we can build on our past and move forward. I think America has done that,” said Pita Sharples, co-leader of the Maori Party, New Zealand’s only all-indigenous political party.
Maori account for 15 percent of New Zealand’s 3.4 million people and are its poorest, worst-housed and least- healthy citizens, suffering higher unemployment and crime rates than most others.
Obama’s victory is not likely to have a direct effect on the election in New Zealand, where voting opened Saturday morning at about 2,600 polling stations. But Sharples said it was inspiring to anyone who supported politicians who sought to end divisions in society.
A close contest could give the Maori Party the role of kingmaker and a huge influence on government policy.
The two major parties have wooed smaller allies to their side, and only the Maori Party remains unaligned.
