Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of Te Pāti Māori has made history in this year's election after winning the Hauraki-Waikato electorate. The 21-year-old has become Aotearoa's youngest-ever MP in 170 years.
There were loads of celebrations and congratulations to go around as Hana shared her win with her whānau and hapori.
Soon after her win, Hana spoke to Aukaha News to share: “It wasn’t about the seat, it was about creating the table for us to come together and to wānanga.”
Talking to 1News about her win, Hana gave a shout-out to the “huge shift” of Te Pāti Māori voters.
“It's not just my seat but if we look over all the electorates, it's actually a huge shift toward Te Pāti Māori, and our messaging, and with the mahi that Debbie [Ngarewa-Packer] and Rawiri [Waititi] have done already, you need more people to help those two voices.”
Hana took the seat from Labour Minister Nanaia Mahuta who has held the seat since it was established in 2008.
Though she was ousting the long-serving minister, Nanaia’s tautoko spoke loud and proud as she rang Hana to congratulate and prepare her for the future.
“I want to tuku mihi to you and give you some encouragement… It’s important for you to know that you have my support to put the aspirations of Hauraki-Waikato front row centre,” Nanaia said through the phone.
Speaking on receiving the “heartbreaking” phone call, Hana told Aukaha News: “It was a phone call I actually hoped I never had to answer, because what an inspiration she is to us and the many kaupapa she’s done for us.”
“We have come too far to go backwards. That means locking in the things we all fought for and that means Māori wards around the council tables, looking after working people and the kainga kore, making sure that all the rangathi you have been advocating for can lift up so they can take it further. Kia kaha. It’s not going to be easy.”
Mahi tika ana, Hana! We look forward to seeing what the future holds.
