Te Pāti Māori take top spot at New Zealand Cosplay Awards

In a surprising turn of events, Te Pāti Māori have emerged victorious at this year’s New Zealand Cosplay Awards, leaving judges scratching their heads, fans cheering, and the political opposition wondering if they accidentally walked into a comic convention instead of Parliament.

Rawiri Waititi took home the award for Best Clown Costume, wowing judges with an ensemble that combined Air Jordans, a full clown face, and a Western cowboy hat - an outfit he sported during a recent parliamentary session. One judge called it “unprecedented,” adding that cosplaying simultaneously as a basketball player, clown, and cowboy takes real mana and a willingness to defy both fashion norms and political decorum. Waititi reportedly spent hours perfecting the look, even practising juggling policy papers between legislative speeches.

Debbie Ngawera-Packer impressed with her ‘iwi-led, kaupapa Māori, Tiriti-centric’ cosplay of a Victorian brothel madam, a choice that had judges both laughing and raising an eyebrow. “While she complains about colonialism almost every time she speaks in Parliament and all over social media, she clearly has a soft spot for the colonial aesthetic,” one judge noted. Ngawera-Packer reportedly accessorised the outfit with a lace fan and a dramatic stare that would make any Victorian-era madam proud.

Oriini Kaipara, new to the party and currently campaigning in the Tamaki Makaurau by-election, left the judges a little puzzled with her eclectic style. At a recent debate, she wore an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) red beret while draping a Basotho blanket over her shoulders - a traditional garment of the Basotho people, the majority of whom do not support the EFF. She even tried wearing a South African flag, prompting critics to question whether she might be transracial or simply confused about whether she identifies as Māori, European, or African. “It’s bold, but it’s also… confusing,” one judge admitted.

Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke didn’t fare quite as well in the scoring, often opting for normal clothing with the occasional nod to the red berets sported by her mate Oriini. Judges noted that while her cosplay might not yet wow the crowds, she appears to be on a long road, potentially carving out a career in political grifting that will give her plenty of time to experiment with future outfits.

Finally, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi stole the show with a creative twist, wearing what judges described as a parachute repurposed into a dress. “It’s bold, it’s unexpected, and it’s functional in ways we didn’t even consider,” one judge commented, while another added that it looked “shockingly good” for something that could have been dragged out of a skydiving convention rather than a costume shop.

As the awards wrapped up, organisers said this year’s event had been one of the most memorable yet, noting that Te Pāti Māori’s willingness to take risks, both sartorial and political, made for an unforgettable cosplay season. Whether they will take these outfits back into Parliament remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: politics in New Zealand has never looked quite so… theatrical.

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