The Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate extends from the top of the East Cape in the North Island to the Wellington region, and includes Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa, as well as most of the Hutt Valley and Wainuiomata. Minor boundary changes in 2007 extended the electorate's western boundary to include Belmont,
Taita, and Naenae. The winning candidate in the 2011 election, Parekura Horomia (Labour Party), captured a majority (60.7%) of the 17,391 valid electorate votes cast for candidates in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate.
On Saturday 29 June 2013 a by-election was held following the death of Parekura Horomia. The winning candidate, Mekameka Whaitiri (Labour Party), captured a plurality (40.90%) of the 11,222 valid electorate votes cast.
The candidates standing this year are: (Information provided by candidates unless stated otherwise):
Meka Whaitiri
Labour Party
Ko Kahuranaki te Maunga
Ko Ngaruroro te Awa
Ko Ngati Pahauwera, Ngati Hawea, Ngati Kere, Ngati Marau oku Hapu
Ko Ngati Kahungunu te Iwi
My home is in Whakatu. My dad & mum are Willie and Maisey Whaitiri, who were freezing workers alongside our extended whanau. They were humble beginnings, but life was good. I owe my passion, dedication and work ethic to the values instilled in me at a young age. This is why I also believe in the Labour Party values.
One year after the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election, I have written a robust and progressive Water policy, travelled widely creating and strengthening relationships, been available to help whanau with their day to day concerns, represented our Electorate in Parliament, scrutinised legislation and advocated on issues important to Ikaroa-Rawhiti.
I believe that the best possible outcomes for Maori will only be delivered by a Labour government, made strong with Maori representation. So this election I ask you to, Vote Whaitiri, Vote Labour.
Marama Fox
Maori PartyMarama Fox is a mother of 9 children whom she has had by her side in every job she has held in Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Maori, Wharekura and Secondary Schooling. Marama currently works as an adviser for the Ministry of Education, she says, to influence the system to achieve better outcomes for Maori students. She is an experienced educational leader with a flair for project management and critical thinking. She has worked for her iwi sitting on the Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Iwi Board.
Though she has links to Ngati Porou, Rangitane and Ngati Kahungunu she has lived with her husband of 26 years predominantly in Masterton where her husband Ben (Sam) Fox is a shearer and keen rugby player, though nowadays he spends his rugby days following his 6 year old daughter down the sideline. Marama and Ben believe that the most important work they will ever do is within the walls of their own home. Family is paramount. Marama is passionate about supporting whanau to realise their aspirations and believes in the ability of the Maori Party to facilitate this through influential policy.
Te Hamua Nikora
Mana Party
(No profile submitted. Information sourced from Mana Movement website)
A son of Ikaroa Rawhiti, Te Hamua is looking forward to representing his whanau, hapu, iwi and community in Aotearoa's parliament as of 20th September this year. Te Hamua's catchphrase, "Poverty is the Enemy", rings true throughout the electorate and stands as a mokopuna of Sir Apirana Ngata and nephew of Parekura Horomia. Te Hamua was politicised from a young age within his immediate whanau and he became a staunch supporter of Hone Harawira as a young man. "Feed the Kids", "House the Homeless", "Jobs for All", this is what's needed in Ikaroa Rawhiti and Te Hamua is determined to implement throughout the Electorate.
Henare Kani
Green Party
The signs are clear; when nearly half of our mokopuna are growing up in poverty, 60 per cent of our rivers are unsafe to swim in and our economy is not providing the opportunities for a majority of rangatahi who are the future then that says our country is in trouble.
I know the Green Party will deliver for Maori especially on the issue of equality. By a Party Vote Green, Aotearoa will have communities who know what a fairer society feels like, a country that knows we will have a cleaner environment and a smarter economy that will bring prosperity to whanau, business and communities because our priority plans have been independently reviewed we can do it people it is real.
With stable leadership and a disciplined team who live the values of the people I declare that the timing is right for the Greens to be in Government to overcome the social, economic and environmental challenges of this time and deliver back to the people a progressive and prosperous Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Let our hearts beat as one for our resilient nation Party Vote Green for a balanced future we can be proud to leave for our mokopuna.
