Tāmaki Makaurau by-election

The rare case I’d vote Labour to stop a party of racists

This might be the only time you’ll hear me say it: I support Labour. Not because they’ve suddenly become competent (that will never happen) but because the alternative in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election is far worse.

The by-election, triggered by the passing of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, gives voters a clear choice. Peeni Henare of Labour or Oriini Kaipara, the former state-funded mouthpiece for Jacinda Ardern’s propaganda machine, now standing for Te Pāti Māori.

Oriini, the token part-Māori bird with the chin tat, that Newshub paraded around like a diversity trophy, spent years pushing Labour’s Covid messaging and censorship agenda. Now she is running under the same party that wants co-governance, racial separatism, and has John Tamihere as their President. He is a man who has turned race-based politics into a family business.

Peeni Henare isn’t perfect. He is Labour through and through. At least he isn’t a radical race-baiter (yet). Labour, for all their incompetence, is not as openly racist or divisive as Te Pāti Māori, who have doubled down on separatism and grievance politics.

The last thing this country needs is another activist MP from Te Pāti Māori grandstanding in Parliament while pushing an ideology that divides us further.

Oh, and what’s Kiri Tamihere’s response to all this? A public tantrum on Instagram.

In a post dripping with bitterness, she writes:

“Labour though... annoying af. Super matapiko, greedy voibes.”

Then whinges that Peeni already has a seat and claims:

“Labour are not there to increase a Māori voice, they want to take one away.”

Give me a break. This is not about increasing Māori voices. It is about stacking Parliament with party loyalists who push a divisive line. Kiri finishes with the clanger:

“Vote Oriini and you get Peeni too.”

Sounds more like a threat than a promise. Kiri, like the rest of her grifting whānau, is trying to whip up outrage while ignoring the obvious. Peeni Henare already has the experience and credibility, while Oriini is just another activist masquerading as a leader.

This by-election should not be about who looks the most Māori, cries the loudest, or posts the most performative rants. It should be about stability, experience and keeping radicals out of Parliament. That is why I say, for once and once only, vote Labour in the Tāmaki Makaurau

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