“I am so grateful for this opportunity and my role is to win the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate for Labour,” Leoni (45) told the Herald.
“The selection process was rough but I want to acknowledge Nathaniel and the members who came to support both of us.”
Leoni said Kaipara supported her Auckland mayoral run last year – Leoni won 77,577 votes to Wayne Brown’s 180,130 votes – and she expected healthy debates heading towards the November 7 election.
Oriini Kaipara is congratulated by a supporter as confirmation came through she had won the 2025 Tāmaki Makaurau by-election. Photo / Julia Gabel
Kaipara herself is a new MP, having entered parliament in September 2025 after the death of Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, who suffered from kidney failure.
Leoni attended King’s College in London and received a master’s degree in economics and international politics.
She told the Herald that if she wins the seat, some of her priorities will be whānau suffering from poor health, housing problems and the high cost of living.
“I hope to use my academic background and international experience and bring it to a Māori seat,” Leoni said.
I hope to use my academic background and international experience and bring it to a Māori seat.
Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni
“It’s important we have people with the knowledge and skill base for Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau. We need someone to focus on bringing our people forward.”
The Tāmaki Makaurau electorate was first formed for the 2002 election and has been previously held by John Tamihere for Labour, Pita Sharples for Te Pāti Māori, Peeni Henare for Labour and Kemp for Te Pāti Māori.
Joseph Los’e joined NZME in 2022 as Kaupapa Māori Editor. Los’e was a chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.