Te Pāti Māori lay out their strategy to defeat the coalition

Te Pāti Māori have laid out their strategy to defeat the coalition at the upcoming election - boost the number of voters on the Māori roll.

Speaking to reporters,Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngārewa-Packer said her party's strategy was clear.

"Our strategy is to get as many Māori on the Māori roll. That is our primary strategy right now."

"What everyone is talking about is 'how do I get more Labour for Labour, more Green to Greens? We've always been focused on Māori, and that's why we [say] get them on the Māori roll."

Co-leader Rāwiri Waititi said the party was "not interested in personalities" and were focussed on making sure that there is a "one term government".

"What we've seen over the last seven to eight months in every poll that's come out is that the Greens and Labour will not get over the line unless Te Pāti Māori is there."

"We're willing to make sure that our people understand what that means in terms of the Māori constituency and their vote and the power that they have, for the very first time in 160 years, is that the Māori constituents will be deciding who the Prime Minister is come November 7th - there's no doubt about that." he said.

Waititi said if parties on the left were really committed to ousting the coalition then his party would be "part of any of those conversations".

Asked if he would be asking Māori voters to give their electorate vote Te Pāti Māori candidates, but their party vote to Labour and the Greens, Waititi said the party would disclose more on the party's strategy in August.

The party welcomed candidates and party leadership to the Beehive today for their candidate college, something Ngārewa-Packer told reporters has been "really awesome".

"That's the most laughter I've heard in this place for quite some time - you want to see them all - they're all pretty magical."

The party announced last week that Lisa Marie Murch would stand as the party's candidate for Te Tai Tonga in the 2026 General Election, replacing Tākuta Ferris and Ngātiwai leader Aperahama Edwards takes the candidacy for Te Tai Tokerau, following the departure of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi who left to start her own party.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rāwiri Waititi said the party had its "full complement" of candidates ready to go for the upcoming November 7 election.

"We're looking forward to the challenges ahead, but we're also optimistic about the up and coming election, and our people have some really, really awesome and viable candidates to vote for when it comes to the election day."

Waikato-Hauraki MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke also spoke to Te Karere last week and reaffirmed her commitment to the party, following speculation she might step down.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngārewa-Packer said the party was always confident Maipi-Clarke would stay.

"What we [needed] was for the noise to end, and then she could actually have a chance to talk about what's really important to her in this campaign. I think she did that really well."

Labour's Māori development spokesperson and Māori strategic advisor Willie Jackson also fielded questions on his party's candidates.

The party has put up Former chair of Te Rūnanga o Koukourarata Mananui Ramsden to contest Te Tai Tonga. Jackson said the decision to not have a placing on the list and run a seat-only campaign was Ramsden's decision.

"Strategically it was probably in his interest to not go on the list but if Mananui had a wanted to put his name up, he would have, I have no doubt, got a pretty reasonable spot".

Jackson denied working with Te Pāti Māori to "push" Tākuta Ferris out of the seat, which he now holds as an independent.

"I didn't talk to the Māori party about it, I just talked to Mananui about it, obviously, because Mananui is a new candidate. It's all up to the candidates whether they come on the list or not." he said.