Te Pāti Māori acknowledges Mariameno Kapa-Kingi’s announcement that she intends to contest the 2026 General Election under the newly announced Te Tai Tokerau Party.

We wish Mariameno well.

Te ao Māori has always carried many voices, many rohe, many whakapapa, and many expressions of mana motuhake. We respect the right of whānau, hapū, iwi, rohe and candidates to determine their own political pathway.

Our focus remains clear.

Te Pāti Māori will contest all seven Māori electorates in 2026. We have five confirmed candidates in Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Oriini Kaipara, Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Haley Maxwell, with our full team to be announced in due course.

Our movement is bigger than any one seat, candidate, or moment. We are here to remove this Government, restore balance to Aotearoa, and build a future where whānau Māori are housed, fed, cared for, protected, connected to whakapapa, and empowered to thrive.

There is no one-term Government without Te Pāti Māori.

Our energy remains focused on the kaupapa. We are prepared to work with anyone serious about removing this Government and advancing the aspirations of our people.

Te Pāti Māori will continue to stand unapologetically for tino rangatiratanga, Te Tiriti justice, mana motuhake, and the liberation of our people.

We are confident in our kaupapa. We are confident in our candidates. We are confident in our movement and are moving forward.

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