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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Oriini Kaipara to contest Tāmaki Makaurau by-election
By Giles Dexter of RNZ 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.
Scoop
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Former Broadcaster Oriini Kaipara Puts Name Forward For Te Pāti Māori's Tāmaki Makaurau Candidate
Former broadcaster and journalist Oriini Kaipara is putting her name forward to be Te Pāti Māori's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate. It comes after Takutai Tarsh Kemp died, triggering a by-election in the Tāmaki Makaurau Māori electorate. The former Te Karere, Māori Television and Newshub presenter posted a "special announcement" on social media, calling for people to vote for her. It outlined the process to register as a member for the Māori Party and attend a hui at Hoani Waititi Marae this Thursday to vote in the candidate selection. Kaipara, of Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Rangitihi descent, said "Tāmaki Makaurau is more than a city. It's a heartbeat." "A place where mana whenua and urban Māori rise together. Where our struggles are real - but so is our strength. "Tō reo. Tō tāua anamata. Kia matike tahi tātou. "I see you. I hear you. I am you. We are the movement." Kaipara, currently working as NZ Olympic's Pouwhiringa Māori culture lead, told RNZ she'd long watched parliamentary politics play out, but putting herself forward for selection was the first time she was getting involved. She said she was responding to the call from her community, including that of Hoani Waititi Marae based in west Auckland where she was a former student, and standing alongside the current Te Pāti Māori MPs. Kaipara grew up in West Auckland, but the Bay of Plenty is home, with her father from Te Teko and her mother from Kawerau. She is a mother and a grandmother. She's remained connected to Hoani Waititi particularly through performing with Ngā Tumanako at Te Matatini. She left Newshub at the beginning of last year to take up the role at NZ Olympics, where she helped launch the first Olympic glossary featuring Māori words to encourage te reo use during the 2024 games. Kaipara was believed to be the first to present a mainstream news bulletin with a moko kauae, when she did so for 1News' Midday bulletin] in 2019, before later reading for the 6 o'clock news on Newshub. She was applauded but also spoke out about the backlash she received. Kaipara also spoke out against the use of her image without her knowledge or consent that was being sold online. Kaipara acknowledged the passing of Kemp, and her contribution as the Tāmaki Makaurau MP, indicating she didn't want to say more until the vote had taken place and she'd confirmed the mandate. No other candidates had put their names forward publicly at this stage to be selected for Te Pāti Māori, but had until Wednesday to submit an expression of interest. RNZ understands other candidates are also seeking selection. The vote will take place on Thursday, and the Te Pāti Māori candidate will be announced Friday. The Prime Minister is yet to announce the date for a by-election to fill the seat. Labour's Peeni Henare, who lost the seat by a slim margin in 2023, has yet to confirm whether he will stand or not.
1News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- 1News
Oriini Kaipara seeks TPM candidacy for Tāmaki Makaurau by-election
Former television news presenter Oriini Kaipara has launched a bid to enter Parliament, seeking selection as Te Pāti Māori's candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat by-election. The seat has been vacant following the death of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp last month. Kaipara, who was most recently a presenter for Newshub, shared the announcement on social media. The announcement does not mean Kaipara is the candidate for the party. 'Kua eke te wā. It's time,' she wrote in an Instagram post. Te Pāti Māori has launched a process to select its candidate to run in the Māori electorate with expressions of interest closing on Wednesday and a selection hui held this Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT A date for a by-election to fill the vacant seat has not yet been announced. 1News understands other candidates are likely to throw their hat into the ring to become Te Pāti Māori's candidate in the by-election. Labour MP and former Tāmaki Makaurau seatholder Peeni Henare has not yet said whether he will choose to contest the seat for his party. Kemp narrowly defeated Henare after a recount of votes at the last election. Kaipara (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi) worked for over two decades as a broadcaster, including for Whakaata Māori and TVNZ. She made headlines in 2019 for becoming the first person with moko kauae to present a mainstream news bulletin. Kemp had been on dialysis as she battled kidney disease. (Source: 1News) After leaving the media in 2023, she became the NZ Olympic Committee's Pouwhiringa Māori culture lead and worked as a public speaker, according to her LinkedIn profile. ADVERTISEMENT If a Te Pāti Māori candidate wins the byelection, the party keeps its total at 6 MPs. But if Henare — who is already a list MP — stands and wins the seat for Labour, then he becomes an electorate MP and therefore his party would be able to bring their next person on the list who is Georgie Dansey. Labour would go from 34 to 35 seats. If another party wins the race, there would be no change to the overall number of MPs. In all scenarios the number of MPs in Parliament remains at 123 due to the overhang.
