Labour plans to contest all Māori seats in 2026, but an expelled MP warns winning them reduces Māori political leverage.

Labour is preparing for the 2026 general election, focusing on economic and health policies like a capital gains tax and free GP visits, while facing challenges from voter dissatisfaction and internal party dynamics. Tākuta Ferris, an expelled Te Pāti Māori MP, argues Labour winning Māori electorates would maintain the status quo, as only an overhang—created by Māori MPs winning seats—can shift power by increasing Parliament size and raising the threshold to form government. He urges strategic restraint from Labour in Māori seats, warning that winning them neutralizes Māori structural leverage. Meanwhile, Labour leaders say they’re confident in their platform and intend to contest all Māori seats, despite Te Pāti Māori’s ongoing leadership uncertainty.