Oriini Kaipara’s win in Tāmaki Makaurau is a powerful moment for Te Pāti Māori and for unapologetic Māori representation.
Oriini Kaipara of Te Pāti Māori has secured a commanding victory in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, defeating Labour’s Peeni Henare by a substantial margin in a contest marked by low voter turnout and profound symbolism.
Election Results (Preliminary)
According to the Electoral Commission’s preliminary results:
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Oriini Kaipara (Te Pāti Māori): 6,031 votes
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Peeni Henare (Labour): 3,093 votes
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Other candidates, including Hannah Tamaki (Vision NZ), Sherry-Lee Matene (Independent), and Kelvyn Alp (New Zealand Loyal), collectively received fewer than 200 votes.
Opting to speak directly to supporters, Kaipara performed a waiata and paid tribute to her predecessor, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, encapsulating the emotional tone of the campaign.
Triggered by the passing of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp, the by-election drew attention to issues of Māori representation and autonomy. Te Pāti Māori co-leaders described the result as a clear mandate for “unapologetic representation” and “transformation” in politics.
Political editor Maiki Sherman noted the outcome came as a “shock” to Labour, with Kaipara leading Henare by a margin of approximately 2,900 votes early in the count. Indeed, when voter participation hit 80% of votes counted, Henare conceded, acknowledging the strength of the Māori Party’s campaign.
At Te Pāti Māori’s election-night event, Kaipara was warmly greeted by teary supporters. Party co-leaders emphasized that the result was not just a personal win, but a signal of community desire for authentic Māori leadership in Parliament.
Henare, conceding defeat gracefully, encouraged supporters to remain positive and dignified, stating, “when they go low, we go high”. Campaign manager Willie Jackson later remarked that the Labour campaign struggled to counter the emotional pull of Te Pāti Māori’s message and Kaipara’s local resonance
