Oriini Kaipara to contest Tāmaki Makaurau by-election
Former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara has been chosen to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election for Te Pāti Māori.
Kaipara was selected at a behind-closed-doors hui at Hoani Waititi Marae tonight.
The by-election has been triggered by the death of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, who died suddenly two weeks ago. She had been battling kidney disease.
Te Pāti Māori said Kaipara (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi) had dedicated decades amplifying the stories of Māori communities, holding prime ministers to account and chairing nationally televised Māori electorate debates.
The party co-leaders said she would bring a lifetime of leadership and advocacy, and that she understood the deep connection between whakapapa and politics.
"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," said co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
Kaipara said she was pledging to tackle the cost of living crisis facing Tāmaki whānau, with a focus on housing, youth homelessness, and skyrocketing food bills.
"Māori are being attacked left, right and centre for purely existing. It's vile and it's not good enough," she said.
"My role now is to move from covering the story to changing it."
She said if elected, her key priorities would be securing mana whenua first right of refusal on significant private land, driving kaupapa Māori housing solutions to eliminate rangatahi houselessness, and expending investment in kaupapa Māori education models such as Te Aho Matua.
Te Kou o Rehua Panapa, a former youth worker at Manurewa Marae had also sought the nomination.
Hīkoi leader Eru Kapa-Kingi had earlier ruled out running.
Kaipara has most recently worked as Pouwhiringa Māori culture lead for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
In 2021, she became the first wāhine Māori with moko kauae to present a mainstream news bulletin, when she fronted Newshub Live at 6pm.
Labour's Peeni Henare previously held the Tāmaki Makaurau seat before being beaten by Kemp in the 2023 election by a slim margin of 42 votes. Henare had held the seat since 2014.
RNZ understands Labour's internal nomination process is under way and will close on Friday.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is yet to announce the date for a by-election.
However, the Speaker of the House published the notice of vacancy in the Gazette yesterday, meaning the Governor-General will issue a writ within 21 days of July 9, instructing the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct the by-election.
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