National selects Rangitīkei District Councillor Coral Raukawa to contest Māori electorate seat of Te Tai Hauāuru

The National Party have selected Rangitīkei District Councillor Coral Raukawa to contest the Māori electorate seat of Te Tai Hauāuru in the upcoming general election.

Raised in Marton, Raukawa (Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa, Ngati Tamakopiri, Tamaupoko, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Kahungunu) had a 20-year background in education, training and employment and had worked across the central North Island.

In a statement, Raukawa said she was honoured to be picked as National's candidate and shared the party's plan to "fix the basics".

"National's sensible economic management has slowed price increases, flattening mortgage repayments and rents. There's still more work to do but the economy is growing again, with 220,000 more jobs projected, higher wages, and lower taxes.

"Our streets are safer because of National's focus on restoring law and order. Ram raids have reduced by 85 per cent and there are 46,000 fewer victims of violent crime.

"Our kids are back at school, learning the basics brilliantly and making good progress like the 40 per cent of Māori new entrants performing at or above standard in reading - up from 25 per cent. There are more elective surgeries, more medicines and more after-hours care thanks to record investments in health," she said.

National took a nearly 20-year hiatus in standing candidates in Māori seats before annoucing Harete Hipango would contest Te Tai Hauāuru and Hinurewa te Hau would stand in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2023.

Raukawa was set to go up against Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngārewa-Packer who charged to victory 2023 - winning the seat with 62 percent of the vote.

Te Pūoho Katene, a Fulbright scholar from Stanford's Graduate School of Business, will contest the seat for Labour.