Hon Peeni Henare was officially announced as Labour’s candidate to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election following the untimely passing of incumbant MP Takutaimoana Tarsh Kemp from Te Pāti Māori.

At the selection hui at Ngā Whare Waatea Marae on Sunday, Henare told Radio Waatea’s Dale Husband that he’ll be meeting face to face with people in the electorate, giving them confidence that he and Labour have a better way of tackling the hard issues of cost of living and rising unemployment.

He says community connection is the only way and that in his experience a billboard has never turned a vote.

“Community connection is the only way you’re going to do it.

“I’ve never seen a billboard turn a vote, I’ve never seen social media turn a vote either.

“So face to face, connecting, listening to them but also providing them with hope and that’s what our whānau need.”

Henare lost the 2023 election to Kemp by 42 votes following a recount.

Te Pāti Māori announced its candidate last week, in a moving ceremony that saw the mauri of Tāmaki Makaurau handed over by Kemp’s whānau to new nominee Oriini Kaipara.

Kaipara was born and raised in West Auckland and is an alumnus of Te Kohanga Reo. She has a back ground in media working across the three major tekevision networks, Whakaata Māori, TVNZ and TV3. Most recently she work at Management level as Pouwhiringa Māori culture lead for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

The date for the by-election is yet to be announced by Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee but is expected to be in September.