Labour confirms Peeni Henare to contest Tāmaki Makaurau by-election

Sunday, 13 July 2025

Labour MP Peeni Henare says the death of Takutai Karsh Kemp came as a shock. They met just yesterday.

The Labour Party has confirmed long-standing MP Peeni Henare will contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election, prompted by the death of MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp in June.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins announced the outcome of the party’s candidate selection process on Sunday morning. Henare previously held the seat for nearly a decade before a narrow loss in 2023.

“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,” Henare said in a statement.

“My focus is clear. To fight for real solutions so our people can flourish.”

Henare will compete against former broadcaster Oriini Kaipara, who is vying to hold the seat for Te Pāti Māori.

Peeni Henare speaking to reporters at Parliament in November 2024.

The by-election looks to be a race between the two, as National, ACT, and the Green Party have ruled out contending in the by-election.

On July 9, the Electoral Commission published the official notice of the Tāmaki Makaurau Māori electorate vacancy in the New Zealand Gazette, triggering a 21-day period for the prime minister to announce the by-election date.

Meaning in the coming three weeks the closing date for candidate nominations and the by-election date will be announced, as well as the elected candidates.

Oriini Kaipara, when working as a newsreader for TV3 in 2021.

Henare was beat by Kemp in 2023 by 42 votes, amid a comprehensive election loss for Labour. A month after the election, Henare applied for a judicial recount, which confirmed the margin.

Coming from a political family -- his great-grandfather Taurekareka Henare was MP for the former Northern Māori seat from 1914 to 1938 -- Henare held numerous roles in the former Labour Government.

He has been Minister for Whānau Ora, Civil Defence, Defence, ACC, Tourism, Environment, and an Associate Health Minister.

“Peeni Henare is exactly the leader Tāmaki Makaurau needs with a deep understanding of the issues that matter,” Hipkins said in a statement.

“He has the experience and track record to deliver real solutions for working families, rangatahi, kaumātua and our most vulnerable whānau.”

Tāmaki Makaurau electorate covers the central Auckland isthmus and Waiheke Island, but not does include some areas that are managed by Auckland Council: namely, Papakura, which is is the Hauraki-Waikato electorate, and Great Barrier Island and Rangitoto, which are in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate.