Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki
The four candidates contesting the Te Tai Tonga electorate have outlined different visions for Māori representation, housing, health, education and the future role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi during their first election debate.
Incumbent and independent MP Tākuta Ferris, Labour candidate Mananui Ramsden, Green Party candidate Dr Lisa Te Morenga, and Te Pāti Māori candidate Lisa Marie Murch each presented their priorities ahead of the General Election.
Te Tai Tonga is the largest Māori electorate in Aotearoa, stretching from Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) through Te Waipounamu to Rakiura (Stewart Island), and encompassing Rēkohu (Chatham Islands).
Ferris seeking re-election as an independent
One of the biggest changes this election is the political position of sitting Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris.
In 2023, Ferris stood under the Te Pāti Māori banner. This year, however, he is contesting the electorate as an independent candidate. Ferris said independent MPs could play a significant role after the election if neither major bloc secures a clear majority.
"The independent seats may be pivotal in this election. This election is going to run into a tight race. If it comes down to one or two seats, then the leverage will be there."
Reflecting on his first term in Parliament, Ferris said his focus had been on growing political understanding among Māori communities.
"Our key mission was to grow the understanding of our people. There obviously weren't a lot of opportunities to achieve big wins with the current Government, but engaging our people and raising that education was our key goal."
He also emphasised investment in Māori health and social services.
"Te mea nui ko te tangata. Immediate investment into looking after our people, social services, Māori health, all of those things."
Ferris also argued that Te Tiriti o Waitangi should play a greater role in New Zealand's constitutional framework.
"Te Tiriti o Waitangi needs to become a part of the central adjudicating nature of this country."
Candidates outline key priorities | Ngā whakarotau o ngā kaitono
Labour candidate Mananui Ramsden highlighted his party's commitment to Te Tiriti partnerships and reducing health costs.
"The protection of Te Tiriti. The Labour Party is committed to partnership with iwi Māori, hapū and Māori communities."
Ramsden said access to healthcare remained one of the biggest concerns facing whānau.
"The biggest issue for healthcare pertains to the cost. That's why Labour is committed to three free GP visits."
Green Party candidate Dr Lisa Te Morenga focused on wealth inequality and housing.
"We're going to make sure that we tax the wealthy and give money back to everyday New Zealanders who are struggling to pay their bills."
Te Morenga also argued that homelessness could be addressed through stronger government intervention.
"Housing the homeless is super important and we can put people back in homes. We did it in Covid. There's no reason why we can't house the homeless."
Te Pāti Māori candidate Lisa Marie Murch emphasised education as a key election issue.
"Education's not just about the classroom. It's about our future."
Murch said her bottom line was improving educational outcomes and backed Te Pāti Māori's proposal for a Māori Education Authority.
"Te Pāti Māori will introduce a Māori Education Authority where we will support each other across all educational sectors.
VOTER ENROLEMENT AND ROLL CHANGES
More than 18,000 Māori voters changed electoral rolls or newly enrolled on the Māori roll between 31 March and 31 July.
6,880 switched rolls from the General roll to the Māori roll
6,679 switched rolls from the Māori roll to the General roll
5,128 newly enrolled on the Māori roll
Te Tai Tonga recorded the most roll changes of any Māori electorate, with 1,339 voters moving to the Māori roll and 1,348 to the general roll. Another 789 enrolled on the Māori roll for the first time.
With the election approaching, the Te Tai Tonga contest remains wide open as voters decide who will represent the electorate and champion their priorities in Parliament for the next three years.
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E whā ngā kaitono e tauwhaiwhai ana i te rohe pōti o Te Tai Tonga, ā, kua puta i a rātou moemoeā mō te hanga whare, te taha hauora, te mātauranga, ngā māngai Māori me te anamata o Te Tiriti o Waitangi i roto i tā rātou tautohe tuatahi.
I puta ai ngā mātāpono o ēnei kaitono arā, ko te mema paremata motuhake o Te Tai Tonga, a Tākuta Ferris rātou ko Mananui Ramsden nō Te Pāti Reipa, ko Tākuta Lisa Te Morenga nō Te Pāti Kākāriki ka mutu, ki a Lisa Marie Murch nō Te Pāti Māori i mua i te pōtitanga ā-motu.
Ko Te Tai Tonga te rohe pōti nui rawa o Aotearoa. E whātoro ana te rohe pōti mai i Te Whanganui-a-Tara, tae noa ki Te Waipounamu, whakawhiti atu ki Rakiura, ki Rēkohu anō hoki.
Ferris seeking re-election as an independent | Kia tū motuhake a Ferris mō tēnei pōtitanga ā-motu.
Ko tētahi panonitanga nui o tēnei pōtitanga ko te tūranga tōrangapū o te mema pāremata o Te Tai Tonga, a Tākuta Ferris.
Nō te tau 2023, i tū a Ferris i raro i te mana o Te Pāti Māori. Heoi anō, i tēnei tau kei te tauwhaiwhai e ia i tōna rohe pōti hei kaitono motuhake. Hei tā Ferris, ka hirahira ake ngā tūranga o ngā mema pāremata motuhake whai muri i te pōtitanga inā kāore ka riro i te nuinga o ngā pōti.
"The independent seats may be pivotal in this election. This election is going to run into a tight race. If it comes down to one or two seats, then the leverage will be there."
Ka hoki ōna mahara ki tōna wāhanga tuatahi ki roto i te whare pāremata, ko te aronga mā Ferris i taua wā, ko te whakatipu i te māramatanga mō te ao tōrangapū i waenga i ngā hāpori Māori.
"Our key mission was to grow the understanding of our people. There obviously weren't a lot of opportunities to achieve big wins with the current Government, but engaging our people and raising that education was our key goal."
I whakamataara ake ko te haumitanga ki roto i ngā ratonga hauora me ngā ratonga pāpori.
"Te mea nui ko te tangata. Immediate investment into looking after our people, social services, Māori health, all of those things."
Ko tā Ferris, me whai tūranga tiketike Te Tiriti o Waitangi i roto i te turepapa o Aotearoa.
"Te Tiriti o Waitangi needs to become a part of the central adjudicating nature of this country."
Ngā whakaarotau o ngā kaitono
Labour candidate Mananui Ramsden highlighted his party's commitment to Te Tiriti partnerships and reducing health costs.
Hei tā te kaitono nō Te Pāti Reipa, a Mananui Ramsden, he hira ake i te kaha ū o tōna pāti ki ngā rangapū mahitahi mō Te Tiriti me te mimiti haere o ngā utu hauora.
"The protection of Te Tiriti. The Labour Party is committed to partnership with iwi Māori, hapū and Māori communities."
Hei tā Ramsden, ko te tomopai ki ngā rawa hauora tētahi raru nui mō ngā whānau
"The biggest issue for healthcare pertains to the cost. That's why Labour is committed to three free GP visits."
Ko te aronga o Tākuta Lisa Te Morenga nō Te Pāti Kākāriki ko te whai rawa me te hanga whare.
"We're going to make sure that we tax the wealthy and give money back to everyday New Zealanders who are struggling to pay their bills."
Hei tā Te Morenga, me kaha ake te whai wāhi mai o te kāwanatanga ki te whakatau i te take o te noho kāinga kore.
"Housing the homeless is super important and we can put people back in homes. We did it in Covid. There's no reason why we can't house the homeless."
Ko te take nui mā te kaitono nō Te Pāti Māori, a Lisa Marie Murch, ko te mātauranga hei take matua mō te pōtitanga.
"Education's not just about the classroom. It's about our future."
Murch said her bottom line was improving educational outcomes and backed Te Pāti Māori's proposal for a Māori Education Authority.
I kī a Murch ko tāna tino whāinga ko te whakapai ake i ngā hua mātauranga mō ngā ākonga, ā, i tautoko hoki ia i te kaupapa a Te Pāti Māori kia whakatūria tētahi Mana Mātauranga Māori.
"Te Pāti Māori will introduce a Māori Education Authority where we will support each other across all educational sectors”
Ngā whakarerekētanga rārangi pōti me ngā whakaurunga kaipōti.
Neke atu i te 18,000 ngā kaipōti Māori i huri rārangi pōti, i whakauru rānei ki te rārangi Māori mō te wā tuatahi i waenganui i te 31 o Māehe ki te 31 o Hūrae.
6,880 ngā kaipōti i huri mai i te rārangi whānui ki te rārangi Māori
6,679 ngā kaipōti i huri mai i te rārangi Māori ki te rārangi Whānui
5,128 ngā tāngata i whakauru ki te rārangi Māori mō te wā tuatahi
Ko Te Tai Tonga te rohe pōti Māori i puta ai te nuinga o ngā panonitanga rārangi pōti. E 1,339 ngā kaipōti i huri ai ki te rārangi Māori, ā, e 1,348 i huri ki te rārangi Whānui. Ka mutu, e 789 ngā tāngata i whakauru ki te rārangi Māori mō te wā tuatahi.
E kainamu mai nei te pōtitanga ā-motu, ā, kei te noho tuwhera tonu te whakataetae mō Te Tai Tonga. Mā ngā kaipōti e tohu ai ko wai hei māngai mō te rohe pōti, hei kawe hoki i ō rātou wawata me ō rātou kaupapa matua ki roto i te Pāremata mō ngā tau e toru e tū mai nei.