Labour launches campaign to retake Māori seats from Te Pāti Māori
Labour is campaigning to win back the seven Māori electorate seats it lost in 2023, focusing on jobs, health and housing rather than Treaty issues.
Labour launched its campaign to reclaim the Māori seats at Wainuiomata Marae, shifting focus away from co-governance and constitutional matters towards economic priorities like employment and healthcare. The party currently holds only one Māori seat and has fielded a slate of candidates to contest the six seats held by Te Pāti Māori and one held by an independent. Labour unveiled a $21 million annual policy for a Māori trades training scheme to address unemployment. Te Pāti Māori, which won six Māori seats in 2023, continues to argue that entrenchment of Te Tiriti and increased Māori decision-making powers are necessary.
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NZ Herald
Election 2026: Mana on the line as battle for Māori seats heats up
Te Pāti Māori is trying to tighten its grip on its six seats – and Labour wants them back.
Newsroom
Labour to Māori voters at campaign launch: You do the maths
Analysis: Although it was hardly mentioned, Te Pāti Māori's shadow loomed large as the Labour Party launched its campaign to retake the Māori seats The post Labour to Māori voters at campaign launch: You do the maths appeared first on…
The Spinoff
As Labour eyes the Māori seats, Te Tiriti fades from the vision
Labour’s pitch to reclaim all seven Māori seats came with a Tiriti-sized hole. It took a while to say the quiet part out loud. When an “unapologetic” Labour Party launched its Māori seat campaign at Wainuiomata Marae over the weekend,…