East Coast gains another MP as Jo Luxton returns to Gisborne

Jo Luxton during in Parliament in 2023. She is moving to live in Gisborne this week. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The East Coast will soon have another MP representing the region in Parliament.

Labour list MP Jo Luxton says she is returning home in a way, having spent nearly all of her schooling years in Gisborne after moving from Whakatāne.

“I went to St Mary’s primary and then Campion College and then I did my last year of schooling at Lytton High.”

The Labour spokeswoman for agriculture, biosecurity and rural communities and her husband were moving from the Rangitata Electorate in the South Island to live in Gisborne.

She left as a young adult to be closer to her family, who had all moved away, and she eventually ended up down south in 1996.

“It has been a while, but Gizzy has always had a special place in my heart as most places that we grow up as teenagers do.”

She said she had been reminded how much she loved Gisborne since her kids had grown up and moved away.

“My husband thought it was really neat and he loved it, too,” she said.

“We sort of started to talk in September, October last year about making the move and then we made the decision October-ish and thought ‘let’s just go for it’.”

She will join Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel as Labour’s second MP on the East Coast.

Along with East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, there will be three MPs living on the East Coast.

Luxton is a list MP but has not ruled out running for the electorate seat in the 2026 election.

“Our party has a process where we will be looking to select candidates for the upcoming election, but I would certainly love to put my name in the ring and be considered [for the East Coast seat] when the time comes.”

She believed being a local opposition MP would bring benefits for the community.

“We can certainly be a lot more vocal and proactive. I believe in helping to represent the community, particularly when the community feels strongly against something the Government is doing we can certainly be a voice in that respect.

“My portfolios, I think, fit beautifully with the electorate, being the agricultural spokesperson, biosecurity and rural communities.”

“For me, my focus is going to be getting out and about, actually talking to people and hearing from them because it’s not for me to decide what is important to them, what matters to them and what the issues are for them. It is up to me to find out and have those conversations.”

She will be based in Gisborne from this Friday and has already planned meetings with Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz, school principals and farmers to hear their concerns.

She said a lot of high school friends still lived in the area and she was looking forward to getting to know the community.

“I just really looking forward to getting to know the people again, meet people and just listen to them.”