A by-election was held in the New Zealand electorate of Mana on 20 November 2010. The seat was vacated by former Labour Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, who announced her resignation from the New Zealand Parliament on 10 August 2010 following her appointment as Assistant Vice Chancellor Pasifika at Victoria University. According to provisional results, the by-election was won by Kris Faafoi, also of the Labour Party. Demographics and election history The Mana electorate has large Pasifika and Māori populations, with 21% and 18% for each ethnicity, respectively. It includes the suburbs of Cannons Creek and Porirua East, which are some of the poorest in New Zealand. The median personal income for residents of Mana is $NZ26,000. The New Zealand Labour Party has held the electorate since its creation for the 1999 general election. Chris Finlayson and Hekia Parata, who contested Mana for the New Zealand National Party in 2005 and 2008, are current list MPs. Candidates Eight candidates contested the by-election: Kris Faafoi (Labour) Labour leader Phil Goff said that "Labour will be looking to find a strong candidate and will campaign on both local issues and issues that matter to all Kiwis". President of the Labour Party, Andrew Little indicated he would not put himself forward for his party's nomination, preferring a Pacific Islander or Māori candidate. Porirua Deputy Mayor, Litea Ah Hoi, chief press secretary to Phil Goff and former Television New Zealand reporter, Kris Faafoi, Porirua City Councillor, Taima Fagaloa, and former Progressive Party candidate for Ōtaki, Josie Pagani, were possible Labour Party contestants for the by-election. Kris Faafoi was chosen on 18 September. Matt McCarten (Independent) On 27 October Matt McCarten announced that he would stand as an independent candidate for Parliament in the Mana by-election The trade-union leader has received considerable media attention for his surprise nomination. Political analysts quote him as being able to "strike a chord in Mana" in the by-election given his political and popular appeal with the high number of poor and unemployed in the electorate. McCarten suggested that "voters are more likely to take a risk on an outside chance in by-elections than general elections". Hekia Parata (National) The National Party confirmed that they would contest the by-election and selected Hekia Parata, the National candidate for Mana in 2008, as the party's candidate. Other parties United Future opted not to contest the by-election, citing strain on the