Opinion polls in two key Maori electorates show Labour MPs leading their Maori Party challengers.
In Hauraki-Waikato Nanaia Mahuta was chosen by 56 percent of voters questioned against 43 percent for the Maori Party's Angeline Greensill.
In Ikaroa-Rawhiti the result was 50 percent for Parekura Horomia and 45 percent for Derek Fox.
The Maori Television/TNS polls also showed a very strong preference for Labour when voters were asked how they would use their party votes.
In Hauraki-Waikato 47 percent said they would vote Labour, 36 percent favoured the Maori Party and only 9 percent chose National.
In Ikaroa-Rawhiti 51 percent chose Labour, 33 percent said they would vote for the Maori Party and 4 percent picked National.
The Maori Party holds four of the seven Maori seats in Parliament.
It aims to win them all, and to do that it has to beat the Labour candidates in Hauraki-Waikato, Ikaroa-Rawhiti and Te Tai Tonga.
A poll taken in Te Tai Tonga, released last week, showed Labour's Mahara Okeroa holding a 10-point lead over the Maori Party's Tahui Katene.
The latest surveys show Labour candidates have picked up support during the campaign.
Previous polls indicated the Maori Party could win the three seats it doesn't already hold, but now it is going to have a problem taking any of them from Labour.
In the four seats it does hold, Maori Party MPs are well ahead of Labour Party challengers.
