With fewer than 100 days until New Zealanders head to the polls on 7 November, Te Pāti Māori says the 2026 General Election is shaping up to be a defining moment for Māori political representation, Treaty rights and the future direction of Aotearoa.
Speaking to Radio Waatea, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said the party is entering the campaign determined to challenge the National-led coalition and strengthen Māori political influence in Parliament.
The comments follow the party’s unveiling of its election strategy, which focuses on defending Te Tiriti o Waitangi, expanding Māori representation and mobilising voters across the Māori electorates.
Waititi said Te Pāti Māori’s campaign is centred on defeating what the party describes as a Government that has consistently rolled back Māori rights and institutions.
Since taking office, the coalition has introduced or advanced a series of reforms affecting Māori, including changes to public sector structures, resource management, local government, employment law and the wider constitutional debate surrounding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Te Pāti Māori argues those changes represent a sustained effort to reduce Māori participation in decision-making and weaken policies designed to improve equity.
The party says the election offers voters an opportunity to reverse that direction.
Waititi said Te Pāti Māori’s platform is focused on the issues Māori communities consistently identify as priorities.
These include improving Māori health outcomes, increasing access to affordable housing, strengthening climate resilience, growing the Māori economy and protecting tino rangatiratanga.
The party has also committed to expanding investment in kaupapa Māori services and supporting greater Māori authority over decisions affecting whenua, wai and whānau.
Waititi said Māori solutions remain the most effective way to address many of the longstanding inequities experienced by Māori communities.
Speaking publicly during the week, Waititi dismissed suggestions that Te Pāti Māori’s political influence is diminishing, arguing the movement continues to grow both inside and outside Parliament.
He said the party intends to defend every Māori electorate it currently holds while expanding its support nationwide.
The co-leader also pointed to increasing engagement from younger Māori voters, whom the party sees as central to shaping the country’s future political landscape.
Te Pāti Māori believes issues such as housing affordability, environmental protection, education, employment opportunities and constitutional recognition continue to resonate strongly with rangatahi.
As political parties intensify campaigning, Māori issues are becoming increasingly prominent.
Healthcare, housing affordability, employment rights, climate adaptation and the cost of living are expected to dominate debate over the coming months.
For Te Pāti Māori, those issues are viewed through the lens of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori self-determination.
The party argues that Māori communities should not simply be consulted but should play a leading role in designing and delivering solutions affecting their own people.
The 2026 General Election is increasingly presenting voters with contrasting visions for the country’s future.
The Government continues to campaign on economic growth, regulatory reform and public sector efficiency.
Labour has focused on rebuilding public services and addressing cost-of-living pressures.
The Greens are campaigning on social equity, climate action and stronger community investment.
Te Pāti Māori, meanwhile, says its priority is ensuring Māori rights, aspirations and leadership remain at the centre of national decision-making.
With election day now less than 100 days away, campaigning is expected to intensify across all seven Māori electorates and throughout the country.
Political parties are increasingly targeting the issues voters identify as most important, including healthcare, housing, economic opportunity, climate resilience and public services.
For Te Pāti Māori, the coming months represent more than an election campaign.
The party says it is a contest over the future relationship between Māori and the Crown, the place of Te Tiriti within New Zealand’s constitutional framework and the ability of Māori communities to determine their own future.
As the campaign gathers momentum, those debates are expected to remain central to political discussion through to polling day on 7 November.
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