Te Pāti Māori is refocusing its efforts on general seats to broaden its influence and better represent a wider demographic in Parliament.
Rawiri Waititi told Te Ao Māori News the move signalled a call from non-Māori who want to vote for someone from Te Pāti Māori on the general roll.
“He nui tonu a tatou tāngata kei runga i te rarangi auraki, te rarangi pakeha me pehea tā ratou ki te whai i tetahi tangata mai i Te Pāti Māori hei reo ma ratou koina hoki te take ka whakatuuhia e matou etahi tāngata a ki roto i nga tuuru auraki.”
Party President John Tamihere echoes this kōrero and further explained, in a statement that the shift is driven by the party’s goal to strengthen its brand and its emergence as a “relentlessly growing political force.”
“We want to awaken Tangata Tiriti and Tangata Moana [so] they can vote for us and spread our electoral appeal,” he said.
Tamihere describes the upcoming election as the most significant in Māori history since the arrival of colonisation.
“We will be administratively ready this year in advance of all other parties to fight the 2026 Election”
The hīkoi for Toitū Te Tiriti revived calls for Māori to switch to the Māori roll, with 3,000 making the change. When asked if this shift might confuse Māori voters, Waititi disagreed.
“Kaare he raruraru. Ko ngā mea e rēhita ana ki runga i te rārangi Māori e mōhio ana rātou e whitu ngā tūru hei pōtitanga mā rātou.
“Ka taea anō hoki e rātou te paati e hiahiatia ana engari kei te kitea kei te piki haere te Māori kei runga i te rārangi Māori kei te piki haere anō hoki ki nga tūru Māori ina kona hoki te rautaki mo nga tuuru Māori”
