Te Pāti Māori have confirmed the selection of celebrated broadcaster and longtime West Auckland advocate Oriini Kaipara (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi) as its candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.

Oriini’s deep whakapapa to Tāmaki Makaurau is grounded in her upbringing at Hoani Waititi Marae, where she was raised by her mother in a strong Māori environment. She has dedicated decades amplifying the stories of Māori communities, holding prime ministers to account and chairing nationally televised Māori electorate debates.

“Oriini brings a lifetime of leadership and advocacy, both in media and in the community. 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 Te Pāti Māori Co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“She understands the deep connection between whakapapa and politics, and she’s not here to play games. She will fiercely uphold kaupapa that protect our whenua, defend our whānau, and uplift our tamariki with unapologetic Māori leadership” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi.

“Māori are being attacked left, right and centre for purely existing. It’s vile and it’s not good enough” said Te Pāti Māori Tāmaki Makaurau Candidate, Oriini Kaipara.

“My role now is to move from covering the story to changing it.”

Kaipara has pledged to tackle the cost-of-living crisis facing Tāmaki whānau, with a focus on housing, youth houselessness and skyrocketing food bills. She will champion Te Pāti Māori’s Mana Motuhake policy package, including a first right of refusal for mana whenua over culturally significant private land.

“We lost a leader in Takutai Tarsh Kemp who served with ngākau mahaki and deep love for whānau. My commitment is to honour her legacy by being a fierce advocate for Tāmaki” Kaipara said.

Key priorities:

· Secure mana whenua firstrightofrefusal on significant private land.

· Drive kaupapa Māori housing solutions to eliminate rangatahi houselessness.

· Expand investment in kaupapa Māori education models such as Te Aho Matua.

“To every whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau, I am standing because our seat deserves to remain strong, grounded in te ao Māori, and guided by the voices of our people, united, determined, and unapologetically Māori” said Kaipara.

This campaign is our call to action, to mobilise, to organise, to stand united to reclaim our voice and build the future our mokopuna and the people of Tāmaki Makaurau deserve.

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