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The contest to fill the vacant Māori electorate seat of Tāmaki Makaurau is under way.
The seat became vacant last month when Te Pāti Māori Member of Parliament Takutai Tarsh Kemp died on June 26.
The 50-year-old had taken a six-week leave of absence from Parliament last year after revealing she had kidney disease. She had been on dialysis as part of her treatment.
Te Pāti Māori has announced award-winning broadcaster Oriini Kaipara as its candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.
The party says Kaipara’s deep whakapapa to Tāmaki Makaurau is grounded in her upbringing at Hoani Waititi Marae, where she was raised by her mother in a strong Māori environment.
She’s dedicated decades amplifying the stories of Māori communities, holding prime ministers to account and chairing nationally-televised Māori electorate debates.
“Oriini brings a lifetime of leadership and advocacy, both in media and in the community,” party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.
“Her voice is exactly what Tāmaki needs to honour the memory of Takutai Moana and to ensure Māori voices are heard loud and clear in Parliament.
“She understands the deep connection between whakapapa and politics, and she’s not here to play games.”
Co-leader Rawiri Waititi adds: “She will fiercely uphold kaupapa that protect our whenua, defend our whānau, and uplift our tamariki with unapologetic Māori leadership.”
Kaipara says Māori are “being attacked left, right and centre for purely existing”.
“It’s vile and it’s not good enough. My role now is to move from covering the story to changing it.”
She’s pledged to tackle the cost-of-living crisis facing Tāmaki whānau, with a focus on housing, youth houselessness, and “skyrocketing food bills”.
She’ll champion Te Pāti Māori’s Mana Motuhake policy package, including a first right of refusal for mana whenua over culturally significant private land.
“We lost a leader in Takutai Tarsh Kemp who served with ngākau mahaki and deep love for whānau,” Kaipara says.
“My commitment is to honour her legacy by being a fierce advocate for Tāmaki.
“To every whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau, I am standing because our seat deserves to remain strong, grounded in te ao Māori, and guided by the voices of our people, united, determined, and unapologetically Māori.”
Meanwhile, the Green Party says it will not stand a candidate to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.
Co-leader Marama Davidson says the decision reflects a combination of factors, including the responsible use of its resources.
“The Green Party remains fully committed to advocating for people and our planet throughout Aoteaora, including in Tāmaki Makaurau.
“We will continue our flaxroots origins as a community-led party. We thank our supporters and members for understanding this decision.
“The Green Party acknowledges the important mahi of our friend Takutai Tarsh Kemp in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate.
“Tarsh stood as strong as she did with humility for the electorate, and for te iwi Māori.
“This will not be forgotten. We encourage whānau in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate to get out and have their voices heard on who will next represent them in Parliament.”
The date of the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election has not yet been announced.
