Candidates Outline Visions for Whenua and Health in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Electorate Debate

Candidates vying for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti seat in the 2026 election met on Thursday, 17 September, to discuss critical issues facing the east North Island electorate. The debate, hosted by Scotty Morrison for TVNZ’s Marae, featured incumbent Labour MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel alongside Green Party candidate Heather Te Au-Skipworth and Te Pāti Māori’s Haley Maxwell. Addressing the ongoing challenges of forestry slash and land management following severe weather events, the candidates proposed solutions centered on Māori-led environmental stewardship. Heather Te Au-Skipworth stated that the Green Party intends to collaborate with Māori forestry organisations to improve industry practices, restore native forests, and protect customary use rights. She also emphasised a commitment to ending perpetual leases to ensure the Crown cannot take ancestral Māori land, including urupā and marae. Te Pāti Māori candidate Haley Maxwell highlighted the impact of forestry slash on local communities, noting that while plans had been developed by the community, current government decisions had hindered progress. Maxwell signaled that her party would seek to restore those initiatives. The electorate, which has seen its population grow to over 73,000 following boundary changes, covers a vast area from the East Coast and Gisborne through to the Wairarapa and Hutt Valley. On the topic of hauora (health), Morrison asked the candidates for specific actions to improve healthcare access. The discussion comes as the electorate continues to navigate recovery efforts from major flooding and landslides. Tangaere-Manuel, who won the seat in 2023 with 54% of the vote, participated in the forum as part of the lead-up to the 2026 contest, reflecting the active engagement of Māori leadership in addressing regional infrastructure and social wellbeing.