Labour’s Māori campaign chair slams Te Pāti Māori over candidate confusion: ‘We don’t need those sort of games’
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Labour’s Māori campaign chair Willie Jackson has slammed Te Pāti Māori for playing games in the Māori seats.
Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has broken away from Te Pāti Māori to set up her own gig - Te Tai Tokerau Party.
In a sit-down interview with The Hui that was published shortly after the announcement, Kapa-Kingi suggested some of her former colleagues would follow suit.
Stuff went on to report Tāmaki Makaurau’s MP Oriini Kaipara was also considering leaving Te Pāti Māori.
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Kaipara’s media spokesperson told The Post on Monday night he had incorrectly confirmed this to Stuff - before issuing a long statement from Kaipara herself to “correct the narrative” a few hours later.
“I can confirm that the comments claiming to be mine are not. I did not and have not spoken with any reporter on this matter,” Kaipara said in her 9.30pm statement.
Te Pāti Māori had already issued a statement on Monday confirming it had five confirmed candidates for the 2026 Election: Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Oriini Kaipara, Rawiri Waititi, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Haley Maxwell.
Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer were both asked if Hone Harawira - a Northland leader and former Te Tai Tokerau MP for the Māori Party - would stand for Te Tai Tokerau for Te Pāti Māori on Tuesday afternoon.
“That's for Te Tai Tokerau to determine. They had a hui (meeting) yesterday, so [we’re] looking forward to the outcome of that,” Waititi said.
The Post called Harawira afterwards who would not confirm he was standing for Te Pāti Māori in Te Tai Tokerau but did say would be able to share more on Wednesday afternoon.
On the candidacy confusion, Ngarewa-Packer said Stuff had spoken to “a comms person who was day one [of the job]” on Monday afternoon, not Kaipara herself.
“She hadn't spoken to the journalists involved and I think she's been really clear on where she stands and we're really supportive of Oriini. We're really confident that she's going to win her seat.”
Stuff has published the text correspondence that shows Kaipara’s communications staffer sharing a statement “to attribute…to Oriini Kaipara”.
Ngarewa-Packer said reports Te Pāti Māori was yet to confirm its candidates - including Maipi-Clarke - were incorrect.
“All MPs in Te Pāti Māori have been confirmed to stand in their seats,” she said.
“Plus one other in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti in Haley Maxwell. We’re looking forward to sealing the deal with the other two [candidates] and those will come in the coming weeks,” Waititi added.
Asked if Te Pāti Māori had followed through with its claim it would make a formal complaint against Stuff, the co-leaders confirmed they hadn’t but intended too.
“We've made it clear where we stand on that that was total misrepresentation and unfair misrepresentation on Oriini and we need that cleared up,” Ngarewa-Packer said.
She added the co-leaders had taken Kaipara at her word that she hadn’t directly spoken to journalists and didn’t need anyone “mansplaining” what she had or hadn’t said.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Jackson joked Te Pāti Māori was in good shape, before speculating there had been a meeting last week to form a new party.
“They’re looking quite steady today, aren’t they? They weren't looking too steady yesterday or last week.
“Apparently, there was going to be a new party last week and that didn’t go down too well up there in Tainui. Now Meno’s introduced her party but as of this minute they’re looking reasonably secure going by Oriini’s statements.”
Labour is running an aggressive campaign to win back all seven Māori seats in November, having lost all but one in 2023.
Asked if he was having fun watching the Te Pāti Māori drama, Jackson said Te Pāti Māori was clearly unfocused.
“You're just watching it and thinking, we don't need those sort of games right now because it's very clear that this government is the enemy.”
“It’s probably the biggest derailment we've seen in recent years. I think it’s sad for them, sad for our people, but we just have to get on with what we're doing.
“I think they want to get on with what they're doing too. So you've heard the statement, they're secure with their four candidates and good luck to them.'
Pushed to clarify what he knew about talks to form another party, Jackson said there had been a “big push” for Te Pāti’s Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke to lead a new party but Tainui kaumatua wanted her to stay put in Te Pāti Māori.
“I heard they had a hui up in Tainui last week, which I think a lot of you probably knew about, and I'm not sure if she wanted to leave or anything I just heard that there was a real push for another party in Tainui, that that party didn't come about and then we ended up with Mariameno’s party this week.”
The Post has contacted Maipi-Clarke for comment.
Ngarewa-Packer said Jackson wasn’t in a position to comment on Te Pāti Māori business.
Asked if Jackson’s comments were true Waititi said, “I have no idea that is up to Willie to explain, or mansplain as he does, we’ve just got to carry on with the mahi that we’re doing as Te Pāti Māori.”
Jackson said Kapa-Kingi wasn’t without a chance in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate but her party’s name risked alienating a large chunk of the southern end of the electorate that lived in West Auckland.
“Meno’s still got a chance but I think she's probably now restricted or limited to her chances because the reality is that seat has won in West Auckland and I'm just not sure how her party can relate to that.”