Te Tai Tonga electorate
Te Tai Tonga is a Māori electorate currently held by Labour's Rino Tirikatene, who won comfortably with a margin of 6,855. In 2020, Labour won the greatest share of party votes in Te Tai Tonga – 59% to Green's 12%. Te Tai Tonga is the biggest electorate in the country and includes all of Te Waipounamu, Rakiura, and Rēkohu/Wharekauri.
Te Tai Tonga candidates
Explore the candidates in your area
Tākuta Ferris
Why I'm standing
This election, I am running to be the independent voice of Te Tai Tonga. Uncompromised by party politics and accountable only to the people. I will continue to stand up for Te Tiriti o Waitangi, rangatiratanga and constitutional change, while challenging a political system that too often leaves our whānau behind. I am running to put people first and to advance outcomes for Te Tai Tonga.
About me
Over the past three years we have connected with whānau across Te Tai Tonga including pulling together the hīkoi against the Treaty Principles Bills from Bluff to Pōneke. We have provided an education platform on social media to raise awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, spoken truth to legislation and have spoken out against this Government's anti-Māori agenda. I commit to continuing that work, and take the voice of Te Tai Tonga to Paremata.
My priorities
- Tangata, our people are our wealth. Restore rangatiratanga in community and grow our potential.
- Te Tiriti, the foundation of all constitutional rights in Aotearoa. Equity rises for all when upheld.
- Taiao, we must not let extraction of its resources be the economic solution. We must protect it.
Get across the policies, candidates and parties
Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2026 general election. Compare the parties, candidates and policies to see where you stand.
Policies
Compare the parties’ positions on the key issues this election
Candidates
See the electorate candidates running in your local area
Parties
Learn about each political party, its leaders and candidate list
Things to know...
Your two votes shape New Zealand’s next parliament. You need to be enrolled to vote.
Read explainerEnrol to vote by Sunday 25 October
You need to be enrolled before you can vote. You can enrol online at vote.nz.
Voting day is Saturday 7 November
Head to your nearest voting place on the day, or vote early from 26 October.
You get two votes
One for a party (the party vote) and one for a person in your area (the electorate vote).
Your party vote is the most powerful
It decides how many seats each party gets in Parliament. That’s what Policy helps you figure out.
