This year, Maipi-Clarke will go up against Labour\u2019s Kingi Kiriona, a kapa haka exponent and broadcaster. When asked what his strategy would be to win the seat, Kiriona, who is No 22 on Labour\u2019s list, said \u201cmyself\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kingi Kiriona will challenge Hana-R\u0101whiti Maipi-Clarke for the Hauraki-Waikato seat at the 2026 general election. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a wasted vote \u2013 neither are the people standing here. Our experiences, the support that we have, the skills that we share amongst would not render us a waste to any person or community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiriona is referencing arguments that a candidate vote for someone who is already likely to enter Parliament on their party\u2019s list is \u201cwasted\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat am I going to bring? I am going to bring myself.\u201d <\/p>\n
The head of Labour\u2019s M\u0101ori caucus Willie Jackson could not contain his upset for the Government, admitting within 40 seconds of taking the podium that he had already \u201cgone off script\u201d as he described the Government as \u201crotten\u201d and \u201cuseless\u201d. <\/p>\n
Down south, Mananui Ramsden will contest Te Tai Tonga \u2013 the electorate that covers the South Island and parts of Wellington \u2013 against Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori\u2019s Lisa Marie Murch and independent and incumbent MP T\u0101kuta Ferris. <\/p>\n
Party leader Chris Hipkins revealed Labour would spend the money to save an ancient waka, estimated to be around 550 years old, which sits under sand on the Chatham Islands. The waka is at imminent risk of damage from potential storms or poor weather. Both Ramsden and Ferris have campaigned hard for its regeneration. <\/p>\n
Ramsden is not on Labour\u2019s list so the only way he will enter parliament is if he wins the candidate vote. <\/p>\n
Ramsden was the kaik\u014drero for Labour during the p\u014dwhiri at Wainuiomata marae \u2013 a role that was once taken up by Peeni Henare<\/a>, a long-time Labour MP. Henare lost his once long-held T\u0101maki Makaurau seat in 2023, and again during the subsequent byelection, to Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori. Henare said he felt the byelection race was \u201cover\u201d once Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori argued that voters would get two for one \u2013 meaning if they voted for their candidate, former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara, they would get Henare anyway because he was already an MP. <\/p>\n This is a strategy Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori is confident in. During their recent campaign launch on the East Coast, Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori declared they would only campaign for the candidate vote \u2013 putting the ultimatum in voter\u2019s hands: if you want Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori in Parliament, vote their candidates in. <\/p>\n For both parties, mana is on the line. Labour wants to win back the seats it lost in 2023 \u2013 but as it tries to do that, Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori is readjusting its grip and deploying different strategies to win the hearts<\/a> of M\u0101ori voters. <\/p>\n Hipkins, the party\u2019s leader, said he wanted to \u201cmake history\u201d by making this Government \u201cthe first one-term National government\u201d. The election is 10 weeks away. <\/p>\n \u201cEverything we do between now and 10 weeks from now matters. Every day, every hour, we have the opportunity to get out there and win more votes. We cannot lose a single hour of that 10-week period. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to take all of us to win this election. And then after the election, it is going to take all of us to bring the country together with a clear sense of purpose to drive toward that better future that we know is possible for this amazing place Aotearoa New Zealand.\u201d<\/p>\nCurrent Te Tai Tonga MP T\u0101kuta Ferris and Labour’s candidate for the seat in the 2026 election Mananui Ramsden. <\/p>\n