Te Pāti Māori gains ground in latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll

Te Pāti Māori has recorded a lift in support in the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll, as major political parties face a significant decline in their polling numbers. According to RNZ, the poll released on Monday, 7 September 2026, shows Te Pāti Māori gained 0.5 percentage points, bringing their total party vote to 2 percent. The results come at a time when the two largest parties, Labour and National, have both seen their support tumble below the 30 percent mark. While the major parties struggle, Te Pāti Māori remains focused on a targeted electoral strategy. The party is working to win all seven Māori seats rather than focusing purely on boosting their party vote. This strategy aims to utilise the MMP overhang to influence the composition of the next government. In the current seat projections, the right-leaning Taxpayers’ Union analysis assumes Te Pāti Māori would win three seats. This puts the party in a position to be part of an opposition bloc alongside the Greens and Labour, who collectively hold 56 projected seats against the current coalition's 64. The poll, conducted by Curia Market Research between Tuesday 1 September and Thursday 3 September 2026, sampled 1000 adult New Zealanders via phone and online. As the 2026 election cycle progresses, the slight gain for Te Pāti Māori highlights their stable presence in the political landscape while others face volatility. The party's focus on electorate dominance remains a central pillar of their campaign as they seek to maximise Māori representation in Parliament.