Te Pāti Māori
Te Pāti Māori
Opposition Founded 2004
Co-leaders
Rawiri Waititi & Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Māori political party advocating for indigenous rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
6
Seats
4.9% of 123
Overview
Te Pāti Māori is a political party founded to represent Māori interests, uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and advance Māori sovereignty and self-determination. All six of the party's seats are Māori electorate seats. The party is currently in opposition in the 54th Parliament.
History
Te Pāti Māori was founded in 2004 after the Foreshore and Seabed Act controversy prompted Māori MPs to leave the Labour Party. The party has played a significant role in NZ politics since, serving in confidence and supply arrangements with National (2008–2014) before returning to parliament in 2020 and gaining its strongest result in 2023.
Founded in 2004 to provide independent Māori political representation
Core values
Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa
Māori sovereignty and self-determination (tino rangatiratanga)
Revitalisation of te reo Māori and Māori culture
Health, housing, and education equity for Māori
Economic development for Māori communities and iwi
Environmental protection guided by kaitiakitanga (guardianship)
Where they stand
Tap an issue to read Te Pāti Māori’s position on it, in our words with their source. 10 of 11 topics have a recorded position.
Te Pāti Māori on Economy
Tax the wealthy; grow Māori-led economy and lift incomes
Te Pāti Māori says the wealthiest should pay more tax, with that money going to housing, health, and education. They want to grow Māori-owned businesses and funds, protect Māori knowledge and data, and lift incomes so people can live with dignity. They also want to make transport more affordable and strengthen welfare support for whānau struggling with everyday costs.
What they say they'll do
- Make sure the wealthiest pay their fair share and use that revenue to fund housing, health, education and whānau support
- Lift incomes so people can live with dignity
- Strengthen welfare so whānau aren't punished for being poor
- Back practical cost-of-living relief (including transport affordability)
- Build Māori-led institutions and funds that grow Māori enterprise
- Break corporate control by supporting Māori-owned supermarkets and protecting local kai sellers
Who this affects
Low-income whānau
The party says it will lift incomes and strengthen welfare so families are not forced to choose between food, rent, power, transport, medicine, or school costs.
Wealthy individuals
The party says it will require the wealthiest to pay more tax, with that revenue directed toward public services and family support.
Māori businesses and entrepreneurs
The party says it will build Māori-led institutions and funds to grow Māori enterprise and support trade and innovation.
Food shoppers and local kai sellers
The party says it will support Māori-owned supermarkets and protect local kai sellers to reduce corporate control of the food supply.
In their own words
“Tax is one of the ways we return power, resources, and opportunity back to the people who keep this country moving.”
“We will fight for an economy where our people can live, not just survive.”
“Māori prosperity cannot rely on permission from systems built to exclude us. Economic power is political power.”
Summarised neutrally from Te Pāti Māori’s own official policy (as at 2026-09-09) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Economy →
Legislative record this term
54th Parliament · as at 16 September 2026
As an opposition party, Te Pāti Māori doesn’t lead government bills (only ministers can). Its MPs advance policy through members’ bills: each MP may lodge one in a ballot, and a few are drawn at random each fortnight to be introduced. Most never are, so the ballot figure below is what’s waiting rather than what’s before Parliament.
0
Members’ bills passed into law
3
Lodged in the ballot, not yet introduced
0
Before the House now
At a glance
6 electorate 0 list
Total seats6
Electorate seats6
List seats0
Share of House4.9%
Founded2004
Latest coverage
News and video mentioning Te Pāti Māori, from the sources on our coverage page.
In the news
Te Pāti Māori co-leader distances himself from ‘racist’ comment on his Facebook pageStuff · 11 SepTe Pāti Māori’s Te Tiriti policy: Pipe dream or blueprint for the future?NZ Herald · 9 SepRaw Politics: Draining the swamp and entrenching the TreatyNewsroom · 3 SepCo-governance, gaffes and a mystery judge: It’s been a shocker of a week for the centre-left — Audrey YoungNZ Herald · 3 SepTe Pāti Māori says major constitutional reform a ‘bottom line’Stuff · 1 Sep
All news On video
Big Hairy Education Debate - Dunedin, 12th AugustBig Hairy Network · 10 SepHung Parliament? Climate Denial & a Capital in CrisisThe Bradbury Group · 8 SepRawiri Waititi wraps up last week's Koroneihana actionTe Karere TVNZ · 8 SepML Calls Out Abusive Social Media Antics Of Te Pati Maori SupportersThe Platform · 7 Sep
Sources
Seat counts from the 2023 General Election (Electoral Commission). Party background from parliament.nz and official party records. Leadership verified against the parliament.nz member roster.