The Green Party has released its final candidate list for the 2026 General Election, which features substantial Māori representation. The party announced 13 Māori candidates overall, with nine positioned in the top 20 of the list, and Co-leader Marama Davidson securing the number one ranking.
Co-leader Marama Davidson stated that the “skilled and diverse candidate list” includes Māori with strong leadership experience, who are working together to deliver real outcomes for whānau, hapū and iwi. She emphasized that the 13 Māori candidates reflect a “long standing commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and partnership”.
Davidson said the party must reflect an Aotearoa that works for everyone, and that the Green Party is the only party that will deliver for Māori, people, and planet, asserting that “Middle of the road politics won’t deliver the change Māori need”.
This announcement reinforces the party’s focus on Māori representation, following an earlier unveiling of a powerful Mana Wāhine front row set to contest key Māori electorates. This line-up includes List MP Hūhana Lyndon for Te Tai Tokerau, lawyer and Tik Tok sensation Tania Waikato for Waiariki, and former Te Pāti Māori candidate Heather Te Au-Skipworth for Ikaroa Rāwhiti.
Ms. Waikato, who has become famous online with nearly 90,000 followers on Tik Tok, confirmed her decision to stand for Waiariki was because the Greens’ values align with her own regarding Te Tiriti and the protection of the Taiao (environment). Ms. Skipworth, who previously ran for Te Pāti Māori, noted that after a three-year rest she is now ready, having reflected on where her values lie.
The 13 Māori candidates named in the list with 9 ranked in the top 20 are:
1. Marama Davidson
3. Teanau Tuiono
4. Tamatha Paul
7. Hūhana Lyndon
11. Kahurangi Carter
13. Tania Waikato
14. Craig Pauling
16. Rohan O’Neill-Stevens
20. Mike Davidson
21. Heather Te Au-Skipworth
24. Zephyr Brown
30. Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith
31. Awhi Haenga
