Radio Waatea can now further confirm the formation of the proposed NuAo political party following additional checks into domain and website registrations linked to the emerging movement.
Waatea has established that the NuAo domain name and website registration has been lodged through the Domain Name Commission of New Zealand by an individual identified as Peter Jones. Contact details attached to the registration appear to link to a work email associated with Takapaukura — a Māori consultancy business and charitable trust.
The development follows Waatea’s earlier reporting that membership application forms connected to the proposed political party were already circulating.
As inquiries continue, the list of individuals believed to be involved in the party’s formation appears to be growing, with much of the activity centred around the Hauraki-Waikato electorate.
Hauraki-Waikato is one of the country’s most politically significant Māori electorates, stretching from South Auckland through the eastern Waikato and down into the Hauraki Plains. The seat has long been regarded as an important political base for the Kīngitanga movement and includes communities such as Huntly, Ngāruawāhia and the wider Hauraki region.
Originally established for the 2008 election, the electorate was held for many years by former Labour Cabinet Minister Nanaia Mahuta before changing hands in 2023.
Sources close to discussions surrounding the proposed party have told Waatea the movement is expected to contest more than just the Hauraki-Waikato electorate at the next election.
However, with no public policy platform yet released, it remains unclear what kaupapa or political direction the party intends to campaign on.
At the time of publication, Waatea had reached out to a number of people understood to be involved in the proposed party’s formation for comment.
Waatea has also continued efforts to seek responses from former NZ First MP Tukoroirangi Morgan and Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke.
