The political race for the Māori electorates has just intensified, with the Green Party unveiling a formidable ‘Mana Wāhine front row’ of candidates at Waitangi today.
The new lineup sees List MP Hūhana Lyndon contesting Te Tai Tokerau, lawyer and TikTok sensation Tania Waikato standing in Waiariki, and former Te Pāti Māori member Heather Te Au-Skipworth challenging for Ikaroa Rāwhiti.
This powerful trio joins Co-leader Marama Davidson in a strategic move by the Greens to contest key seats in the upcoming General Election.
The announcement is notable for the inclusion of high-profile figures, including the defection of Heather Te Au Skipworth, who secured a Green ticket after being overlooked by Te Pāti Māori in the last general election.
“I’ve had a good rest! You know, I’ve had a three year rest. I’m ready! I was ready back then but probably even more so ready now,” Heather says.
“A chance to reflect those three years where my values lie, and I’m very happy. I’m being well looked after. In terms of Te Pāti Kākāriki and Te Pāti Māori, well we’re going to be able to work together,” she says.
“We’re a flood prone region, you know Ikaroa Rāwhiti and the aspirations of our whānau. You know they hadn’t been addressed.”
Tania Waikato, the Waiariki candidate, also outlined her commitment, stating that she is standing for the Greens because the party’s core values around Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the protection of the Taiao align closely with her own.
He nui te menemene a te Kaiārahi Takirua o Ngā Kākāriki a Marama Davidson mō te pānuitanga i tana aro-ā-kapa Wahine Toa
“Ka menemene ahau i tēnei rā nā te mea ka tono atu ngā tuku karere ki te ao ka tae mai ngā wāhine māreikura ki te Pāti Kākāriki,” hei tā Marama Davidson.
“Nui te honore o mātou o te Pāti Kākāriki kia karere atu e ngā wāhine e toru mō ngā rohe o Te Tai Tokerau, Waiariki me Te Ikaroa Rāwhiti,” hei tāna anō.
“Tēnei te mihi atu, whakanuia! Te karere a Huhana Lyndon, Tania Waikato, Heather Skipworth e tae ana ki te pāti Kākāriki.”
Ko Tania Waikato o Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hine kei te tū mō Ngā Kākāriki ki te tūru Māori o Te Waiariki
“Ko te rōpū Kākāriki te pāti e tuu ake mō te taiao, mō papatuānuku hoki. Ko au he kairongoā mō ngā tau maha. Nā reira ko tērā te pāti e tū mai mō ngā uara tata tonu ki tōku nei ngākau,” e ai ki a Tania Waikato.
“Kei te noho whakaiti au i tēnei wā nā te mea ka karanga mai taku iwi mō te wā roa kia tū mai. Heoi anō ko tēnei te wā nē? He maha ngā uaua kua puta mai i te kawanatanga e pā ana ki te iwi, e pā ana ki te Waiariki hoki, naa reiraa ko tēnei te wā,” hei tāna anō.
“He nui taku aroha ki te tūngane me te Pāti Māori hoki. Ehara tēnei te pakanga kia ahau nei, ko tēnei he kōwhiringa ki te katoa mō ngā tāngata o te Waiariki.”
“Haere mai ki runga i ngā Ruarangi whenua ki te kī mea nei te Kāhui Mana Wāhine o Te Rōpū Kākāriki,” e ai ki a Huhana Lyndon.
“E whakaiti ana mo tēnei tautoko o te rōpū Kākāriki i tēnei mana wahine me kī mō ngā tūru Māori. Nō reira e mihi ana,” e ai anō ki a Huhana.
“Tēnei rā te rōpū Kākāriki kia kawe ake i ēnei o ngā mātāpono nui ko te Tiriti o Waitangi, ko te ora o te Taiao me te ora o tō tātou iwi Māori.”
Hei ākuanei pānui whānui hoki ai ngā Kākāriki ko wai atu ngā kanohi Māori ki ngā tūru Māori ki Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tai Hauāuru me Te Tai Tonga. Kua kopoua kētia e te pāti i ētehi atu wahine Māori i a Kahurangi Carter i ngā ūru auraki pērā i a Kahurangi Carter mō Christchurch Central rāua ko Tamatha Paul ki Wellington Central.