Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere says the movement is turning its attention away from the political turbulence in Wellington and towards the real contest ahead — Election 2026.
While much of the political conversation has centred on instability within the Government, Te Pāti Māori has officially launched its election campaign in Tairāwhiti, putting its candidates, Māori electorates and grassroots supporters at the centre of its strategy.
For Tamihere, the campaign launch signals a shift from reacting to the political battles of the day to setting out where Te Pāti Māori wants to take the country over the next two years.
The party launched its campaign at Te Poho o Rāwiri Marae in Gisborne, with its strategy placing particular emphasis on winning the candidate vote across the Māori electorates.
The approach reflects the importance Te Pāti Māori is placing on electorate representation under MMP, as it seeks to maximise the number of Māori voices it can return to Parliament.
For Tamihere, the campaign is also about building on the movement that has grown around Māori political participation, rangatahi engagement, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tino rangatiratanga.
Turning support into votes
The challenge now is converting that energy into votes.
Campaign launches can demonstrate enthusiasm, organisation and people power, but election day will determine whether that momentum translates into seats in Parliament.
That means mobilisation will be critical.
Getting Māori enrolled, getting whānau to understand both their electorate and party votes, and ensuring supporters actually reach the ballot box will be among the major tasks facing Te Pāti Māori over the coming campaign.
The Māori electorates are also shaping up as one of the key battlegrounds of Election 2026, with Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori all seeking to convince Māori voters that they offer the strongest pathway for representation and political influence.
Tamihere’s focus is on ensuring Te Pāti Māori remains firmly in that contest while building a longer-term vision beyond election day.
Tamihere remembers Te Kepa Stirling
The political campaign comes during a time of reflection for te ao Māori following the death of pioneering Māori educator Te Kepa Takataka-ō-Rangi Stirling.
Tamihere is also reflecting on the contribution of Te Kepa, whose work helped transform Māori education in South Auckland and whose legacy continues through generations of tauira and whānau.
Te Kepa, of Te Whānau-a-Apanui and Ngāti Porou, died aged 88. Whānau, former students, iwi leaders and members of the wider community have gathered at Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae to honour his contribution.
Almost 50 years ago, Te Kepa and his late wife Pani Takawhenua Waipapa Stirling began developing a Māori education pathway within Ngā Tapuwae College.
Their kaupapa created a place where te reo Māori and tikanga Māori could sit at the centre of education for Māori students. What began within a mainstream secondary school developed into an immersion unit and eventually became Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae.
Te Kepa had originally worked as a carpenter before retraining as a kaiako Māori in 1976. He joined Ngā Tapuwae College as a physical education and Māori language teacher, beginning a journey that would ultimately help strengthen Māori-medium and kaupapa Māori education far beyond the school itself.
His legacy also continued through his tamariki, including Arihia Stirling QSM and Tiwai Stirling, and through the generations of students who carried the kaupapa of Ngā Tapuwae into their own whānau and communities.
Building for the generations ahead
For Tamihere, the two kaupapa underline a common theme — Māori advancement is built over generations.
The election campaign is about who represents Māori in Parliament over the coming term, while the life of Te Kepa Stirling demonstrates the enduring impact of Māori who built their own pathways when existing institutions failed to reflect their language, tikanga and aspirations.
Te Kepa will begin his final journey home to Te Whānau-a-Apanui on Tuesday, August 18, returning to Wairūrū Marae at Raukōkore. His nehu will take place at Moutara on Thursday, August 20.
As Te Pāti Māori turns its attention towards the ballot box, Tamihere’s reflections are also a reminder that Māori leadership is measured by more than electoral cycles.
The political contest may be about the next government.
The bigger kaupapa is about the next generation.
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