Waiariki

Waiariki is one of the seven Māori electorates in Aotearoa New Zealand and covers a large portion of the central and eastern North Island. The electorate stretches from Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty through Rotorua, Taupō, Tokoroa, Whakatāne, Kawerau, Murupara and across to Gisborne’s surrounding areas.

The seat is regarded as one of the most politically significant Māori electorates due to its strong Māori population, diverse iwi representation, and history of influential political leadership.

Major iwi within Waiariki include Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and sections of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui and Ngāti Porou.

The electorate has a mix of urban, rural and forestry-based communities, with key industries including tourism, forestry, farming, geothermal energy, fisheries and Māori enterprise. Rotorua is considered the electorate’s largest urban centre and political hub.

Waiariki has often been a battleground seat in Māori politics. It was previously held by the Māori Party’s co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell before Labour’s Tamati Coffey won the seat in 2017. The Māori Party regained Waiariki in 2020 with Rawiri Waititi securing victory and later becoming co-leader of Te Pāti Māori.

Key issues for voters in Waiariki include housing, health access, Māori economic development, water rights, forestry employment, education, gang violence, regional infrastructure, and the protection of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori.