February 06, 2026

#election2026: Wāhine Māori Step Forward as Greens Target Māori Electorates

Matthew Tukaki Posted On February 6, 2026

The Green Party has signalled a major shift in its electoral strategy, unveiling three wāhine Māori candidates to contest Māori electorate seats in the upcoming general election.

The announcement was made during Waitangi commemorations, where the party confirmed it would field candidates in key Māori electorates – a move seen as an effort to strengthen its presence in seats historically dominated by Labour and Te Pāti Māori.

The Green Party has selected Hūhana Lyndon, Tānia Waikato, and Heather Te Au-Skipworth as its Māori electorate candidates. All three were formally introduced during whaikōrero at Waitangi, highlighting the party’s emphasis on wāhine Māori leadership heading into the election.

Party representatives described the lineup as a strong collective of mana wāhine stepping into leadership roles across multiple electorates. Lyndon said the selection of three Māori women candidates offers a strategic advantage for the Greens as they expand their campaign focus.

Lyndon is set to stand in Te Tai Tokerau and acknowledged the contest will be competitive, with Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime and sitting MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi among her rivals. She expressed confidence in her campaign, citing her established community connections in the region.

For Heather Te Au-Skipworth, the campaign represents a return to frontline politics after stepping away from a previous candidacy under Te Pāti Māori. She will contest the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate, where she is expected to face strong competition from Te Pāti Māori and Labour candidates.

Te Au-Skipworth said her decision to stand with the Greens was influenced by the party’s stance on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, environmental protection and social equity, as well as the sense of representation she sees for her whānau within the party structure.

Historically, the Green Party has focused on building support through the party vote rather than directly contesting Māori electorate seats. However, the latest announcement suggests a shift toward actively challenging for those electorates.

Political observers say the move reflects the party’s growing engagement with Māori voters and its effort to strengthen credibility as a Tiriti-based political movement.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has previously indicated Māori membership within the party is growing, describing it as a surge that is helping shape policy direction and reinforce commitments to Te Tiriti obligations.

The announcement also aligns with the party’s broader push to strengthen Māori representation in Parliament. The Greens recently introduced a member’s bill aimed at entrenching Māori seats in law, arguing existing constitutional protections for general electorates should also apply to Māori seats.

Party leaders say the proposal is part of a wider strategy to protect Māori political representation and ensure equitable participation in New Zealand’s democratic system.

The decision by the Greens to field candidates in Māori electorates adds another layer of competition ahead of the election, with Labour and Te Pāti Māori traditionally dominating those seats.

With three wāhine Māori now positioned as Green contenders, the party is signalling its intention to broaden its reach among Māori voters while promoting kaupapa centred on environmental protection, Te Tiriti partnerships and social equity.

As the election campaign gains momentum, the increased presence of Māori women candidates across political parties is likely to remain a significant theme, reflecting both changing voter expectations and the growing influence of mana wāhine in Aotearoa’s political landscape.