Tāmaki Makaurau byelection could help reshape Māori politics
The byelection in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate could create new and interesting dynamics in Māori politics and foreshadow a working relationship between Labour and Te Pāti Māori.
Labour and Te Pāti Māori are best-suited political bedfellows, despite some policies being poles apart. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said both parties must

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Scoop
4 hours ago
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Fewer Jobs, Opportunities In Regions Under National
The Government's changes to training in our regions will see jobs lost and fewer training opportunities. 'The whole point of Te Pukenga was to make the polytechnic sector more financially viable and ensure more training opportunities and employment in our regions,' Labour tertiary education spokesperson Shanan Halbert said. 'The changes announced today will only return the polytechnic sector to a model that was never financially viable – and the result will be major job losses in local areas. 'Toi Ohomai's Tokoroa campus could close, which is huge for a town that has also just lost its mill. WIT had proposed more job cuts as of Friday to business and hospitality. NorthTec, EIT and Ucol have been forced to propose further cuts as a result of the Government's proposals already. 'This Government could have simply addressed some of the issues Te Pukenga had, without disestablishing it, and avoided all the expense and uncertainly this has had on staff and students. 'The Minister is refusing to say how much this will cost and is ignoring advice on the risks of her proposal to the financial viability of polytechnics. Penny Simmonds couldn't even guarantee when asked this afternoon if they would all still be operational in two years' time. 'This is a sector that supports training for the kinds of jobs our regions need to fill skill gaps and boost local businesses and the economy. This Government is taking our regions backwards,' Shanan Halbert said.

RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Tāmaki Makaurau by-election to be held in September
The death of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Tarsh Kemp late last month triggered the by-election. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Tāmaki Makaurau by-election will be held on Saturday 6 September. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed the date for the by-election this afternoon. The byelection was triggered by the death of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Tarsh Kemp late last month. Former journalist and broadcaster Oriini Kaipara will run for Te Pāti Māori, while Peeni Henare, who narrowly lost to Kemp at the last election, will contest the seat for the Labour. Hannah Tamaki will contest the seat for Vision New Zealand. Speaking at a post-cabinet conference, Luxon said National would not contest the vacant seat. "Across the Māori seats, we've typically not run candidates [and] where we have it's all been about a party vote campaign in general elections," Luxon said. "That's what our focus has been so, we don't see a need for us to run a candidate in Tāmaki Makaurau." Kaipara said last week she pledged to tackle the cost of living crisis with a focus on housing, youth homelessness, and food bills. "Māori are being attacked left, right and centre for purely existing. It's vile and it's not good enough," she said. "My role now is to move from covering the story to changing it." Henare said he was "humbled and honoured" to be selected by his party. Access to quality and affordable health services, affordable housing and relief from the rising cost of living were a top priority. "Tāmaki Makaurau is where I was born and is my home. I know the challenges that many whānau are facing. The cost of living is putting significant pressure on whānau just to put kai on the table," "My focus is clear. To fight for real solutions so our people can flourish," Henare said. Luxon said it would be interesting to see whether the by-election would be a "real fight" or a "pillow fight" between Labour and Te Pāti Māori. He said he "felt sorry" for Henare, who he said was thrown "under the bus" by Labour leader Chris Hipkins at the last election for not finding another way to challenge the narrow loss. The Green Party have also ruled out running a candidate. The by-election Writ Day will be 30 July and the deadline for candidate nominations is midday Tuesday 5 August. The last day for the return of the Writ will be Sunday 28 September. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Watch: Christopher Luxon on the the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds have revealed the latest on the disestablishment of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Te Pūkenga. Luxon also announced the date of the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, following the sudden death of Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Tarsh Kemp. It will be held on 6 September 2025. Te Pūkenga, the mega-institute that combined polytechnic and workplace training and education, is due to be disestablished by 31 December 2026, and be replace with 10 stand-alone polytechnics and a new system for work-based industry training. The 10 polytechnics will start functioning on 1 January 2026, with Te Pūkenga operating for another year to cater for courses that aren't offered by the 10 named institutions. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.