Māori lawyer Tania Waikato enters New Zealand's 2026 election as a Green Party candidate, driven by Treaty rights and social justice.

Tania Waikato, a Māori lawyer and Treaty rights advocate, has announced her candidacy for New Zealand’s 2026 general election as a Green Party list candidate, citing a need to bring grassroots activism into Parliament. She gained national attention for leading opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill and Regulatory Standards Bill, mobilizing over 160,000 submissions and spearheading a petition that helped block a school lunches contract. Waikato, who previously had no political ambitions, said her decision follows internal turmoil within Te Pāti Māori and a desire to advance economic justice, public housing, and Treaty partnership. She plans to announce her electorate in February 2026.