National has selected Coral Raukawa as its candidate for the Te Tai Hauāuru Māori electorate seat.
Raukawa serves as a Rangitīkei District Councillor and grew up in Marton. She has tribal connections to Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa, Ngati Tamakopiri, Tamaupoko, Ngati Tuwharetoa, and Ngati Kahungunu. Her professional experience spans two decades in education, training and employment sectors throughout the central North Island.
The seat is held by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngārewa-Packer, who secured 62% of votes in 2023. National resumed contesting Māori electorates in 2023 after a gap of almost two decades.
Labour has chosen Te Pūoho Katene, a Fulbright scholar who attended Stanford's Graduate School of Business, as its Te Tai Hauāuru candidate.