Mahuta clarifies political return at Labour conference

Atereano Mateariki Nanaia Mahuta | Mahuta clarifies political return at Labour conference

Download Audio

Former Hauraki-Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta clarifies her return to politics.

On Saturday, during the Labour Party national conference in Christchurch, the longest-serving Māori MP in Parliament, Mahuta made an appearance to speak to her fellow party faithful.

She says she is still involved as a member and policy advisor for sitting MPs, but there are no plans to get on the list or vie for her former seat.

“I’ve always been a Labor Party member. That’s not going to change. The headlines might have been slightly over-optimistic about re-entering politics. I’ve reentered the political spectrum, in so far as you know, in re-engaging with the party in a formal sense,” says Mahuta.

Mahuta says heading into the 2026 elections, she has served a lot for the party and it’s time for the next generation of Māori Labour MPs to take on these roles.

RELATED NEWS

Research dilution claim angers Maori academics Universal message danger for Labour Spa project gets tourism growth boost