Latest news with #RawiriWaititi
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Te Pāti Māori Takes Legal Action Over Māori Voter Deregistration
Te Pāti Māori has filed urgent proceedings in the High Court following alarming reports that Māori across the motu have been removed from the electoral roll or shifted off the Māori roll, without their knowledge, consent, or due process. 'We are witnessing what can only be described as voter suppression. Our whānau are being stripped of their democratic rights in silence' said Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The party has sent formal letters to the Electoral Commission, the Minister of Justice, and the Ombudsman demanding urgent action, including a full investigation of the enrolment system and an extension for registrations in the upcoming Tāmaki Makaurau By-Election. 'We are calling for immediate corrective action and a halt to the Government's electoral law reforms which, even according to the Attorney-General, breach human rights' added Te Pāti Māori Co-leader, Rawiri Waititi. Te Pāti Māori warns that failure to act will undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process and breach the Crown's obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 'We will not stand by while our people are disenfranchised' said Ngarewa-Packer. 'If no remedy is offered, we will escalate this through the courts and consider action in the Waitangi Tribunal.'
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Te Pati Māori files urgent High Court proceeding over electoral roll concerns
Te Pati Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngawera-Packer. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Te Pāti Māori says it has filed urgent proceedings in the High Court over reports people have been removed from the electoral roll or shifted off the Māori electoral roll. It's not yet clear what the nature of the legal proceedings are but the party has been approached for clarification. RNZ has spoken to several affected people, including one woman who could not find herself on the Māori roll despite going through the process of switching to it last year. The Electoral Commission has said there are no technical problems with the rolls and those who can't find their details may not be entering the correct information or may be on the dormant role, which applies to those who haven't communicated with the Electoral Commission for three years. More to come...
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Te Pāti Māori announces Ikaroa-Rāwhiti candidate
Te Pāti Māori candidate Haley Maxwell. Photo: Supplied Te Pāti Māori has announced Haley Maxwell will stand for next year's general election - for the one Māori seat currently held by Labour. Maxwell helped organise the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in the region last year. "Haley Maxwell spearheaded the historic Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti from Te Tairāwhiti right through to Kahungunu. Haley embodies the fierce compassion and courage that Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is famous for" Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said in a written statement. "She has stood on the marae, in the courts and on the streets for our people. Parliament will be a stronger house with her voice echoing the roar of Te Tairāwhiti." The statement described Maxwell as a wāhine Māori, māmā and nanny whose life's work centred on rangatahi justice, reo revitalisation and tangata-whenua drive community development. It said her campaign would focus on "tackling sky-high food costs, unaffordable housing, and low incomes across Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, while championing Te Pāti Māori's justice, housing, and mana motuhake policies". The party did not respond to questions about the timing of the announcement during a by-election for Tamaki-Makaurau, which Labour is also contesting. In a statement, Labour's MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, said the region deserved choices. "I acknowledge the Te Pāti Māori candidate announcement of Hayley Maxwell, and commend her for putting herself forward," she said. "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti deserves to have choices and will ultimately choose their voice in Parliament. In the meantime it's my honour to continue to serve the region." Te Pāti Māori has announced Haley Maxwell will stand for next year's general election - for the one Māori seat currently held by Labour. Maxwell helped organise the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti in the region last year. "Haley Maxwell spearheaded the historic Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti from Te Tairāwhiti right through to Kahungunu. Haley embodies the fierce compassion and courage that Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is famous for" Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said in a written statement. "She has stood on the marae, in the courts and on the streets for our people. Parliament will be a stronger house with her voice echoing the roar of Te Tairāwhiti." The statement described Maxwell as a wāhine Māori, māmā and nanny whose life's work centred on rangatahi justice, reo revitalisation and tangata-whenua drive community development. It said her campaign would focus on "tackling sky-high food costs, unaffordable housing, and low incomes across Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, while championing Te Pāti Māori's justice, housing, and mana motuhake policies". The party did not respond to questions about the timing of the announcement during a by-election for Tamaki-Makaurau, which Labour is also contesting. In a statement, Labour's MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, said the region deserved choices. "I acknowledge the Te Pāti Māori candidate announcement of Hayley Maxwell, and commend her for putting herself forward," she said. "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti deserves to have choices and will ultimately choose their voice in Parliament. In the meantime it's my honour to continue to serve the region." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Coalition Of Colonisers War On Trans Rights Is Colonial Violence
Te Pāti Māori stands firm in upholding mana motuhake over our bodies, identities, and spaces. We reject unequivocally the Crown's latest attempt to erase trans inclusion from sport. It is not only discriminatory, it is a direct continuation of colonial gender imposition. 'We reject all policies that seek to exclude our rainbow whānau from public life including sport' said Te Pāti Māori Co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. 'Te Tiriti o Waitangi demands equity for all tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti. Government sport codes must reflect Tiriti justice not weaponised 'fairness'. Rainbow inclusion is a human right.' 'Our whakapapa includes ira tāne, ira wāhine, and ira atua. Our duty is to uphold mana for all not to replicate the violence of Western binary systems' added Co-leader Rawiri Waititi. 'This is nothing more than dog-whistle politics a deliberate attempt to inflame colonial fear and hatred instead of fostering understanding, education, and aroha within our communities.' Te Pāti Māori affirms that the existence, safety, and participation of our Rainbow and Takatāpui whānau are non-negotiable. We will always stand to protect the mana, rights, and whakapapa of our people.
RNZ News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tāmaki Makaurau byelection: Kaipara will fight hard to retain seat for Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Te Pāti Māori hopes to retain the Tāmaki Makaurau seat until the next election. Former Newshub broadcaster Oriini Kaipara has been chosen to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election for Te Pāti Māori . The by-election has been triggered by the death of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, who died suddenly two weeks ago . Kaipara (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi) was selected at a behind-closed-doors hui at Hoani Waititi Marae on Thursday evening. Co-leader Rawiri Waititi told Morning Report every election was a fight, and the party was prepared to go into the fight to ensure it kept a hold of the Tāmaki Makaurau seat through to the next election. "Because we believe that the seat is a Te Pāti Māori seat right up to the next election and unfortunately, Takutai's untimely death means that we're having to fight for it again." 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 underway and will close on Friday. Oriini Kaipara has a vast amount of experience, Te Pāti Māori says. Photo: Screenshot / YouTube / Newshub Waititi said Kaipara was a strong candidate and brought with her a vast amount of experience. 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 primetime news bulletin, when she fronted Newshub Live at 6pm. 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. 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. 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 on Wednesday, meaning the Governor-General will issue a writ within 21 days of 9 July, instructing the Chief Electoral Officer to conduct the by-election. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
