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Download AudioThe new Labour MP for Ikaroa Rawhiti, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, says she’ll draw on all her skills and experience to get the party fighting fit for Opposition and a return to Government.
The eighth of nine children says she was raised by a village – Rangitukia in the heart of Ngati Porou – and went on to work in kohanga reo, Māori health, Māori media and then running East Coast Rugby and reviewing the Māori rugby structure in Rugby New Zealand.
She says being asked to stand as a member of parliament seemed like an opportunity to make a bigger impact – even if it means starting off on the back foot.
“So the influence I’d like to have on the party now is OK, what are we going to do about it? Let’s get really frank about who we are, what we represent, how we are going to work with the other parties moving forward but also what our strategy is. Those Māori seats have always been so important to us but we also acknowledge our relationship with Te Pati Māori so there is a lot of strategising to do but first and foremost I think we need to regroup and wananga as a caucus,” Ms Tangaere-Manuel says.
She was heartened by the way people in the electorate embraced her as their MP as soon as she started running.
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