The Green Party has announced respected community leader Te Whatanui Leka Taumalolo Skipwith as its candidate for the Ōtāhuhu electorate in the 2026 General Election, bringing a strong background in community development, kaupapa Māori and environmental advocacy to the campaign.
A husband, father and long-time advocate for whānau wellbeing, Skipwith says his campaign will be centred on listening to local communities and ensuring South Auckland voices are represented in Parliament.
With whakapapa to Te Arawa, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu, alongside his Tongan heritage, Skipwith says his approach to politics is grounded in service, kotahitanga and strengthening the wellbeing of whānau.
Skipwith has spent much of his career working alongside some of Aotearoa’s most vulnerable communities through youth development, mental health services, social services and kaupapa Māori initiatives.
His work has focused on supporting whānau through complex challenges while promoting long-term wellbeing and community resilience.
Beyond the social sector, he has also become widely recognised for his advocacy to protect the ancestral whenua and waterways of Rotokākahi, supporting mana whenua leadership and environmental protection.
His campaign reflects the Green Party’s focus on combining social justice, environmental sustainability and Te Tiriti-based partnerships.
Skipwith says residents across Ōtāhuhu have consistently identified a number of issues as priorities for their communities.
Those include improving housing affordability and security, helping families manage the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, investing in quality healthcare and education, honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, creating greater opportunities for rangatahi, protecting te taiao and supporting safer neighbourhoods through community-led solutions.
Rather than relying solely on traditional campaigning, Skipwith says he intends to continue meeting people where they already gather, including marae, churches, sports clubs, community halls and neighbourhood events.
He believes meaningful political conversations happen within communities rather than exclusively in Parliament.
Ōtāhuhu remains one of Auckland’s most culturally diverse electorates, home to large Māori and Pacific populations as well as rapidly growing migrant communities.
Issues such as affordable housing, transport, employment, education and access to healthcare are expected to feature prominently throughout the election campaign.
The Green Party says Skipwith’s experience working directly with whānau gives him an understanding of the everyday challenges facing many South Auckland families.
His background in kaupapa Māori initiatives and environmental advocacy also reflects the party’s commitment to strengthening Māori-Crown relationships while protecting the natural environment.
Skipwith joins a growing list of candidates preparing to contest electorates across the country as political parties ramp up campaigning ahead of the General Election.
The Greens are expected to campaign strongly on climate action, affordable housing, reducing inequality, protecting biodiversity and advancing Te Tiriti-based policy.
For Skipwith, the campaign is about ensuring local communities play a greater role in shaping the decisions that affect their futures.
He says the goal is to build communities where tamariki, rangatahi, workers, kaumātua and whānau can thrive, while safeguarding the whenua and waterways that sustain future generations.
As campaigning gathers pace, voters in Ōtāhuhu can expect to hear more from candidates on the issues shaping one of Auckland’s most diverse and rapidly growing electorates.
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