Labour will today announce Māori advocate Kingi Kiriona as its Hauraki-Waikato candidate to take on Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke at November’s election. 

At just 21 years old, Maipi-Clarke caused a major upset at the 2023 election when she became the youngest MP in 170 years by defeating Labour stalwart Nanaia Mahuta by 2911 votes. 

At the time, Mahuta was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and had been in Parliament since 1996. 

Te Waipounamu Teinakore, Kingi Tūheitia and Kingi Kiriona, at the Tainui Regional Kapahaka Competition 2012 in Te Kūiti. 

Kiriona (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kahungunu), confirmed his nomination after seeking the blessing of the Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. 

“I was always clear that any opportunity to represent this rohe required the blessing of Te Arikinui,” Kiriona told the Herald. 

“To get her blessing, I can’t describe the extent of my gratitude to the Kingitangi and Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. 

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, the Māori queen. 

“It cleared the path for me to run. 

“We spoke in te reo, she said: ‘Mō te oranga o te iwi, me pēwhea e kore ai au e whakaae?’ - ‘For the betterment of the people, how could I not agree?’ 

“It was very special to have that blessing.” 

He said the queen told him she wanted Kiriona, 43, to work with Maipi-Clarke to make the world better for the children of the Waikato-Hauraki region regardless of who wins the seat. 

Kingi Kiriona is well steeped in kapa haka. Photo / Supplied. 

The Herald understands Maipi-Clarke is also likely to seek and get the blessing of the queen. 

Kiriona is a former journalist who has worked in cultural development and last year was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal. 

He told the Herald he remembers Maipi-Clarke being brought into his then-workplace, the TVNZ newsroom, by her father as a baby. “Everyone loves Hana,” he said. 

Kiriona also served as deputy chief executive, Matauranga Māori at the Māori Health Authority, Te Aka Whai Ora - before it was scrapped by the current Government. 

Kiriona is deputy chair of the NZ Maori Broadcasting Funding Agency, Te Māngai Paho, following three terms as board director of Whakaata Māori. He is also the founder of Māori education provider, TupuOra. 

Kiriona said his experiences as a father and a graduate of kōhanga reo and Te Panekiretanga, and as a tutor of the renowned kapa haka Te Iti Kahurangi, have prepared him to lead and serve Māori and the wider public. 

Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke with the Māori Queen Ngā Wai Hono i te pō at the Waikato-Tainui Māori business awards last year. 

“I have been driven by the power of nurturing potential, and the importance of empowering people, particularly rangatahi, to in turn uplift others.” 

Kiriona said three years ago, he and his wife employed 30 staff, and today that is down to five. 

“This Government has not been good for New Zealand. 

“That’s why I have put my name in the ring to have a go.” 

During her first term in Parliament, Maipi-Clarke has attracted an international profile, collecting a Time 100 Next award in New York for being one of the world’s most influential rising stars. 

Time said she “shook the world” when she performed a haka during a vote on the Treaty Principles Bill in 2024. 

Joseph Los’e was chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News newspaper covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and prior to joining NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.