Te Pāti Māori Targets Gisborne | Auckland News

Te Pāti Māori made history by launching their 2026 election campaign in Gisborne — the first time any party has done so in Tairāwhiti. Candidate Haley Maxwell, a local teacher and lifelong resident, anchored the event at her ancestral marae, Te Poho-o-Rāwiri, underscoring her deep ties to the community. With co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi declaring their mission to win the Māori-only Ikaroa-Rāwhiti seat — previously held by Labour since 1999 — the party is pouring energy into this key battleground. Rawiri emphasized unprecedented voter enthusiasm, while president John Tamihere tackled urgent local issues like under-resourced Gisborne Hospital. Maxwell’s six-hundred-kilometer tour will now take her across the electorate, aiming to build momentum and connect with voters on the ground. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0dfed590b7a51c1c