Jo Luxton to contest East Cape for Labour with cost of living focus

Jo Luxton, selected to contest the newly named East Cape electorate in next year's general election for Labour, says it was a privilege to be her party's candidate.

Gisborne-based list MP Jo Luxton has been selected as the Labour Party’s candidate to contest the East Cape electorate in next year’s general election.

Luxton, an MP since 2017 and a former Cabinet minister, spent most of her school years in Gisborne after moving from Whakatāne.

“I left home in Gisborne 30 years ago and didn’t have an easy time of it,” Luxton told the Gisborne Herald.

“I became no stranger to foodbanks or a Winz office.

“One of my most demoralising moments was being a young mother begging for help from a system that thought I was a problem and refused to help.

“I know financial poverty, I know poverty of spirit and I know the poverty of despair.

“I’ve lived the extremes. I’ve been penniless, I’ve been a farmer, I’ve been a business owner, teacher and a Government minister.”

Luxton said she shared the lived experience of many people in the electorate.

“I care about what happens in Munro St in Gisborne, Kiwi St in Whakatāne and Grey St in Kawerau.

“I know I can’t fix every problem or solve every issue, but I will give it a bloody good try.

“Gisborne is my happy place. I’ve reconnected with friends from high school and family since I came home last year.

“I’ve been wearing a path between Gisborne and Whakatāne, meeting and connecting with people, schools, iwi and businesses to show that I’m here, I care and that local issues are my issues.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to do that as Labour’s representative for East Cape,” she said.

Luxton told the Gisborne Herald the cost of living would be a big focus for Labour in 2026.

The cost of living was an issue no matter where people lived – “even more so as we move into Christmas”.

Labour would also campaign on jobs, healthcare and homes, she said.

National’s Dana Kirkpatrick won the electorate, currently named East Coast, back for her party in 2023 by 3199 votes.

She defeated Labour’s Tamati Coffey, who replaced Kiri Allan, who resigned in late 2023 in her first term as an electorate MP.

Luxton said she would be working hard “for every single vote I can get for Labour - absolutely”.

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said Luxton “truly cared” about every New Zealander.

“She has been doing a particularly good job reconnecting Labour to our farming community as agriculture spokesperson, but she is equally at home in a marae or in an RSA.

“Her focus as a minister in the last Labour Government was on early childhood education, customs, biosecurity and agriculture.

“I hugely value the role Jo plays in our team, and I know she will be a fantastic Member of Parliament for East Cape.”