The Labour Party has named former Māori journalist Kingi Kiriona as its candidate to contest the Hauraki-Waikato seat in this year’s general election. Kiriona will challenge the incumbent Te Pāti Māori MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
“The opportunity to stand for the Labour Party, and represent the people of Hauraki-Waikato, is a huge honour,” Kiriona said in a statement. He attributed his candidacy to the support of leaders and whānau throughout the rohe over many years.
The statement further noted that Kiriona met with Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po and received her blessing to stand for the seat.
Leadership and Professional Background
Kiriona is a recognized leader in te ao Māori with a professional background spanning cultural development in health, education, infrastructure, and broadcasting. He is the founder of TupuOra, a Māori education provider.
A former Te Karere journalist, he currently serves as the deputy chairman of Te Māngai Pāho, the Māori broadcasting funding agency. He also previously served three terms on the board of Whakaata Māori.
Beyond his administrative roles, Kiriona is a prominent figure in Māori language revitalisation. He leads the Waikato-based kapa haka group, Te Iti Kahurangi, which is performing today at the Tainui regional kapa haka competition in Hamilton.
Advocacy and Education
Kiriona credits his ability to serve the public to his experiences as a father, a tutor, and a graduate of Kōhanga Reo and Te Panekiretanga, a language academy of te reo Māori excellence.
“Throughout my journey, I have been driven by the power of nurturing potential, and the importance of empowering people, particularly rangatahi, to in turn uplift others,” he said.
Kiriona is also known for using kapa haka to address topical issues. Most notably, during the 2015 Te Matatini competition, his group performed a haka that criticized the content of Whakaata Māori.
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