After a crushing defeat in the 2023 election, Labour has confirmed Toni Boynton as its candidate to contest the Waiariki seat once more, with Boynton staking her campaign on a deeply personal plan for redemption.
In the last race, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi secured the seat with over 15,000 votes, leaving Boynton with just 5,000. It was a staggering loss that has forced a critical rethink, and the Labour challenger returns with a single, sharp lesson learned: she must stay closer to her people.
“I think the lessons that I learned from the last campaign is that you really do need to stay close with your people and that you need to really take the time to listen more than speak,” said Boynton . “The time you learn with your whānau isn’t just during a campaign.”
This commitment has translated into a new strategy that Boynton said is defined ki te āta whakarongo or to listen deeply, to take the time to understand before you speak.
For Boynton, the motivation for a return to the grueling campaign trail is rooted in her lived experience and an unwavering focus on community. “It’s worth going through,” she sa, “because our people deserve somebody who’s going to be able to stand up for them… it’s about serving whānau.” She highlights her resilience, forged by having to navigate tough times as a mother, which she believes gives her a unique perspective on how policy impacts her people.
The Labour Party is fully behind its candidate. Māori spokesperson Willie Jackson, who confirmed Boynton’s candidacy following the withdrawal of another potential contender, offered a strong endorsement. Jackson acknowledged the difficulty of the task, given Waititi’s significant vote count, but praised Boynton as “a woman fighting for Māori issues” who brings vital experience in “governance” and local body politics.
As Boynton launches her comeback, she faces a multi-candidate race. While Rawiri Waititi currently holds the seat, the field also includes Green Party candidate Tania Waikato, setting the stage for a tight three-way contest. Ultimately, however, the decision rests with the voters on the streets of Waiariki, who will determine if Boynton’s redemption plan is enough to close a 15,000-vote gap and unseat the popular incumbent.
