Ikaroa-Rāwhiti

Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is a New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorate that was formed for the 1999 election. It covers the eastern North Island from East Cape south through Hawke's Bay Region, Tararua District and the Wairarapa Region to Wainuiomata and most of the Hutt Valley, but not southern Lower Hutt or Wellington City.

It was held by Parekura Horomia of the Labour Party from 1999 until his death in 2013. A by-election to replace him was held on 29 June 2013. Meka Whaitiri held the seat for ten years under the Labour Party before changing political allegiances. Whaitiri left the Labour Party in early May 2023 and joined Te Pāti Māori. According to a ruling by the speaker of the House, Whaitiri continued to represent the electorate, not on behalf of a party, but as an independent. Labour's Cushla Tangaere-Manuel became MP in 2023.

Population centres

As the electorate's name suggests (ika "fish", roa "long", rāwhiti "east"), Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is a long electorate covering the eastern North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui).

The electorate includes the following population centres (from north to south):

• Gisborne
• Wairoa
• Napier
• Hastings
• Central Hawke's Bay
• Tararua District
• Masterton and the Wairarapa district
• Wellington – Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt—northern suburbs (north of Fairway Drive and Daysh Street), western hills (excluding Korokoro), and Wainuiomata

In the 2013/14 redistribution, a minor boundary adjustment was undertaken. A small area, including the village of Tuai, was transferred to the Waiariki electorate. In the 2025 redistribution, the Lower Hutt suburbs of Petone and Eastbourne would be transferred to the electorate from Te Tai Tonga.

Tribal areas

The electorate includes the following tribal areas:

• Ngāti Porou – Potikirua ki Te Toka-a-Taiau (Gisborne)
• Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki – Gisborne and Poverty Bay
• Rongowhakaata – Poverty Bay
• Ngāi Tāmanuhiri – Poverty Bay
• Ngāti Kahungunu – Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, Hastings, Napier and Wairarapa
• Ngāti Toa – Hutt Valley, and northern Lower Hutt

History

The electorate was formed for the 1999 election, which was won by Parekura Horomia of the Labour Party. Horomia's death on 29 April 2013 triggered a by-election, which was held on 29 June and won by Labour's Meka Whaitiri. The Māori Party had nominated tribal leader Na Rongowhakaata Raihania. and the Mana Party had selected television presenter Te Hamua Nikora as its candidate. The Green Party had selected environmentalist and human rights advocate Marama Davidson. Further candidates had been Michael Appleby for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party plus two independent candidates. Based on preliminary results, Whaitiri more than tripled her 2014 election night majority over Mana's Nikora. Also based on preliminary results, Marama Fox of the Māori Party was elected to Parliament as a list MP.

Members of Parliament

Key

Labour Independent

List MPs

Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

Māori Party Green

Election results

2023 election

2020 election

2017 election

2014 election

2013 by-election

The following table shows the final results of the by-election:

2011 election

Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 32,951

2008 election

2005 election

1999 election

Notes

External links

• , New Zealand Parliament

39°25′00″S 176°49′00″E/39.4167°S 176.8167°E/ -39.4167; 176.8167