View source for Te Tai Tonga

{{NZelectorateShortDesc|current=yes|type=maori|region=}}{{Use NZ English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox New Zealand electorate
| electorate = Te Tai Tonga
| type = [[Māori electorate|Māori constituency]]
| photo = File:Mt Cook LC0247.jpg
| photo_caption = [[Aoraki / Mount Cook]], New Zealand's tallest mountain and of deep cultural importance to iwi in the South Island
| map = Te Tai Tonga electorate, 2014.svg
| formation = 1996
| party = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga Party|y}}
| member_image = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP Photo|y}}
| member_elected = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP since|y}}
| previous_mp = {{NZ previous officeholder|Te Tai Tonga }}
| previous_mp_party = {{NZ previous officeholder|Te Tai Tonga party}}
| partyvote_votes_total = 28409
| partyvote_party_1 = New Zealand Labour Party
| partyvote_votes_1 = 10396
| partyvote_party_2 = Te Pāti Māori
| partyvote_votes_2 = 6447
| partyvote_party_3 = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
| partyvote_votes_3 = 4605
| partyvote_party_4 = New Zealand National Party
| partyvote_votes_4 = 2453
| partyvote_party_5 = New Zealand First
| partyvote_votes_5 = 1557
| partyvote_date = 2023
| region = {{ubl|All [[South Island]] regions|[[Wellington Region|Wellington]]|[[Chatham Islands]]}}
| character = Urban and rural
| member = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}}
| list_mps = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga List MPs|y}}
}}

'''Te Tai Tonga''' ({{lit|The South Coast}}) is a New Zealand parliamentary [[Māori electorates|Māori electorate]], returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. It was established for the [[1996 New Zealand general election|1996 general election]], replacing [[Southern Maori]]. It covers all of the [[South Island]], [[Stewart Island]], the [[Chatham Islands]], and parts of both [[Wellington City]] and the [[Hutt Valley]]. The current MP for Te Tai Tonga is [[Tākuta Ferris]] of [[Te Pāti Māori]].

==Population centres==
[[Image:View from Chatham Islands.jpg|thumb|right|[[Chatham Islands]] farm]]
Te Tai Tonga is geographically by far the largest of the seventy-one electorates of New Zealand, covering all of the [[South Island]], [[Stewart Island]], the [[Chatham Islands]], all the islands in the [[Southern Ocean]] and a large part of the [[Wellington]] urban area, namely [[Wellington City]] as far as [[Churton Park]], and [[Lower Hutt|Lower Hutt City]] south of [[Naenae]] and west of [[Wainuiomata]]. Besides Wellington, the main centres in Te Tai Tonga are [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], [[Christchurch]], [[Timaru]], [[Oamaru]], [[Dunedin]], [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]], and [[Invercargill]].

As a Māori electorate, Te Tai Tonga overlaps with the sixteen South Island electorates, as well as [[Rongotai (New Zealand electorate)|Rongotai]] and [[Wellington Central (New Zealand electorate)|Wellington Central]], and parts of [[Ōhāriu (New Zealand electorate)|Ōhāriu]] and [[Hutt South]].

Te Tai Tonga's size was marginally decreased after a review of boundaries in 2007, when the suburbs of [[Naenae]] and [[Taitā, New Zealand|Taitā]] were moved into [[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti]].<ref>{{cite book| title=Report of the Representation Commission 2007 |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/2007%20Representation%20Commission%20Report.pdf |isbn=978-0-477-10414-2 |publisher=Representation Commission |access-date=2 October 2014 |page=11 |format=PDF |date=14 September 2007}}</ref> The 2013/14 redistribution did not further alter the boundaries of the electorate.<ref>{{cite book| title=Report of the Representation Commission 2014 |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/report_of_the_representation_commission_2014.pdf |isbn=978-0-477-10414-2 |publisher=Representation Commission |access-date=2 October 2014 |page=11 |format=PDF |date=4 April 2014}}</ref> The 2019/20 redistribution adjusted the north-east boundary to align with the northern boundary of Hutt South.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 April 2020|title=Report of the Representation Commission 2020|url=https://elections.nz/assets/Boundary-Review/REPORT-OF-THE-REPRESENTATION-COMMISSION-2020.pdf|access-date=3 August 2020|website=www.elections.nz}}</ref>

The main iwi of Te Tai Tonga are [[Ngāi Tahu]]/Kāi Tahu, [[Kāti Māmoe]] and [[Waitaha (South Island iwi)|Waitaha]], and in the North Island, [[Te Āti Awa]] ki Whakarongotai, [[Ngāti Toa]] Rangatira and [[Ngāti Poneke]],<ref>[http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/region/te-whanganui-a-tara/ Te Puni Kōkiri – In Your Region – Te Whanganui ā Tara]</ref> that latter of which is not iwi in the traditional sense, but an urban pan-tribal grouping. The Chatham Islands was invaded by members of [[Ngāti Mutunga]] and [[Ngāti Tama]], and their descendants live there today, alongside the indigenous [[Moriori]].

==History==
[[Image:Otakou marae.jpg|thumb|right|Ōtākou marae, near Dunedin]]

Te Tai Tonga was established for the 1996 general election, replacing Southern Maori which had existed since the [[first Māori elections]] in 1868. The 1996 election was the first to use the [[Mixed-member proportional representation|Mixed Member Proportional]] (MMP) voting system and a new formula for calculating the number of electorates, which resulted in an increase in the number of [[Māori electorates]] from four to five.

The main difference involves the separation of the [[Wairarapa]] and [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]] into seats wholly located in the North Island—initially [[Te Puku O Te Whenua]], and since 1999 [[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti]].

[[Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan|Whetū Tirikatene-Sullivan]] had served as Southern Maori's representative in Parliament since 1967—during the terms of five different governments and nine Prime Ministers. However, the [[New Zealand First]] Party challenger [[Tu Wyllie|Tū Wyllie]] tipped her out of the seat in 1996, as sixty years of Labour Party control of the Māori electorates ended.

In [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999]] New Zealand First lost its electoral footing after an unpopular term in office, firstly as junior government-coalition partner and then following an internal split in the party, with much of the party's original parliamentary caucus leaving the party ("[[waka-jumping]]") to prop up the government of [[Jenny Shipley]] (although Wyllie himself did not join the breakaway group). Along with a drop in the New Zealand First vote from thirteen to four percent nationwide came the return of the Māori electorates to Labour and the election of [[Mahara Okeroa]] to Parliament as the Labour Party MP for Te Tai Tonga.

A political difference of opinion between many Māori and the Labour Party emerged in 2004, when [[Helen Clark]]'s [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour government]] introduced the [[New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy|Seabed and Foreshore Bill]], claiming the coastline for the Crown and in the process providing the catalyst for the launch of the [[Māori Party]] (7 July 2004), which went on to win four of the seven Māori seats (but not the plurality of the party votes cast in those seats) at the [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 general election]]. Te Tai Tonga did not form part of this electoral sea-change, with Okeroa's majority slashed from 8,000 to around 2,500 despite his facing two fewer contenders than in [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002]].

[[Rahui Katene]] won the electorate for the Māori Party in the {{NZ election link|2008}}, defeating the incumbent.<ref>
{{cite news |last=Macintosh |first=Rob |title=Battle for Maori seat is under way |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/5615719/Battle-for-Maori-seat-is-under-way |access-date=29 November 2011 |work=[[The Marlborough Express]] |date=13 September 2011}}</ref> She was defeated after a single term; Rino Tirikatene, the nephew of Tirikatene-Sullivan, won the electorate in {{NZ election link year|2011}} with a margin of 1,475 votes.<ref name="2011 election" /> He was returned in the [[2014 New Zealand general election|2014]] and [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 elections]] with increased majorities.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-70.html |title=Official Count Results – Te Tai Tonga |date=21 September 2014 |access-date=3 October 2014 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>

===Members of Parliament===
'''Key'''

{{Party index link|New Zealand First}} {{Party index link|New Zealand Labour Party}} {{Party index link|Te Pāti Māori}} {{Party index link|Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand}}
{| class=wikitable
|-
!width=100| Election
!width=175 colspan=2| Winner
|-
|{{NZ election link|1996}}
| width=5 bgcolor={{party color|New Zealand First}}|
| [[Tu Wyllie]]
|-
|{{NZ election link|1999}}
| rowspan=3 bgcolor={{party color|New Zealand Labour Party}}|
| rowspan=3 | [[Mahara Okeroa]]
|-
|{{NZ election link|2002}}
|-
|{{NZ election link|2005}}
|-
|{{NZ election link|2008}}
| bgcolor={{party color|Māori Party}}|
| [[Rahui Katene]]
|-
|{{NZ election link|2011}}
| rowspan=4 bgcolor={{party color|New Zealand Labour Party}}|
| rowspan=4 | [[Rino Tirikatene]]
|-
|{{NZ election link|2014}}
|-
|{{NZ election link|2017}}
|-
|{{NZ election link|2020}}
|-
|{{NZ election link|2023}}
|{{party color cell|Te Pāti Māori}}
|[[Tākuta Ferris]]
|}

===List MPs===
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Te Tai Tonga electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

{| class=wikitable
|-
!width=100| Election
!width=175 colspan=2| Winner
|-
|{{NZ election link|2005}}
|width=5 bgcolor={{party color|Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand}}|
|[[Metiria Turei]]
|-
|{{NZ election link|2023}}
|width=5 bgcolor={{party color|New Zealand Labour Party}}|
|[[Rino Tirikatene]]
|}

==Election results==
===2023 election=== 

{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2023 New Zealand general election|2023 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref name="2023 election">{{cite web| url= https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-71.html|title=Te Tai Tonga – Official Result |access-date=18 November 2023|publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
}}
{{MMP election box candidate win|
 |party         = Te Pāti Māori
 |candidate     = [[Tākuta Ferris]]
 |votes         = 12,828
 |percentage    = 46.80
 |change        = +21.39
 |party votes   = 6,447
 |party percent = 22.69
 |party change  = +14.00
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent list|
 |party         = New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate     =[[Rino Tirikatene]]
 |votes         = 10,004
 |percentage    = 36.49
 |change        = –12.39
 |party votes   = 10,396
 |party percent = 36.59
 |party change  = –22.11
}} {{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |candidate     = Rebecca Rae Robin 
 |votes         = 2,852
 |change        = +4.48
 |percentage    = 10.40
 |party votes   = 479
 |party percent = 1.68
 |party change  = –0.43
}} 
{{MMP election box independent|
 |party         = Independent politician 
 |candidate     = Geoffrey Karena Fuimaono Puhi
 |votes         = 816
 |change        = —
 |percentage    = 2.97
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |party votes   = 4,605
 |party percent = 16.20
 |party change  = +4.82
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand National Party
 |party votes   = 2,453
 |party percent = 8.63
 |party change  = +2.99
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand First 
 |party votes   = 1,557
 |party percent = 5.48
 |party change  = +2.08
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes   = 659
 |party percent = 2.31
 |party change  = –0.44
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = The Opportunities Party
 |party votes   = 549
 |party percent = 1.93
 |party change  = +0.10
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand Loyal
 |party votes   = 471
 |party percent = 1.65
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Freedoms New Zealand
 |party votes   = 154
 |party percent = 0.54
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = NewZeal
 |party votes   = 122
 |party percent = 0.42
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = DemocracyNZ
 |party votes   = 68
 |party percent = 0.28
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand
 |party votes   = 50
 |party percent = 0.17
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Leighton Baker Party
 |party votes   = 50
 |party percent = 0.17
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Women's Rights Party
 |party votes   = 22
 |party percent = 0.07
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Nation Party
 |party votes   = 12
 |party percent = 0.42
 |party change  = —
}} 
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Conservatives Party
 |party votes   = 11
 |party percent = 0.38
 |party change  = –0.31 
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes       = 910
 |party votes = 302
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes       = 27,410
 |party votes = 28,409
}}
{{MMP election box majority gain|
 |winner  = Te Pāti Māori
 |loser   = New Zealand Labour Party
 |votes   = 2,824
 |percent = 10.30
 |change  = –13.17
}}

===2020 election===
{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref name="2020 election">{{cite web| url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-71.html |title=Te Tai Tonga – Official Result |access-date=30 December 2020 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent win|
 |party         =New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate     =[[Rino Tirikatene]]
 |votes         = 14,277
 |percentage    = 48.88
 |change        = +4.44
 |party votes   = 17,543
 |party percent = 58.70
 |party change  = +2.90
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Māori Party
 |candidate     = [[Tākuta Ferris]]
 |votes         = 7,422
 |percentage    = 25.41
 |change        = +4.44
 |party votes   = 2,596
 |party percent = 8.69
 |party change  = +0.29
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |candidate     = Ariana Paretutanganui-Tamati
 |votes         = 3,324
 |change        = –13.12
 |percentage    = 11.38
 |party votes   = 3,448
 |party percent = 11.54
 |party change  = +3.42
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |candidate     = Anituhia McDonald
 |votes         = 1,732
 |change        = –1.00
 |percentage    = 5.92
 |party votes   = 631
 |party percent = 2.11
 |party change  = +0.95
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Advance New Zealand
 |candidate     = Matiu Thoms
 |votes         = 965
 |change        = —
 |percentage    = 3.30
 |party votes   = 635
 |party percent = 2.12
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = New Conservative Party (New Zealand)
 |candidate     = Raymond Tuhaka
 |votes         = 606
 |change        = —
 |percentage    = 2.07
 |party votes   = 208
 |party percent = 0.69
 |party change  = +0.61
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand National Party
 |party votes   = 1,685
 |party percent = 5.64
 |party change  = –6.83
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand First
 |party votes   = 1,030
 |party percent = 3.45
 |party change  = –4.35
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes   = 822
 |party percent = 2.75
 |party change  = +2.55
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = The Opportunities Party
 |party votes   = 547
 |party percent = 1.83
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Vision NZ
 |party votes   = 130
 |party percent = 0.43
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = ONE Party
 |party votes   = 98
 |party percent = 0.33
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand Outdoors Party
 |party votes   = 58
 |party percent = 0.19
 |party change  = +0.14
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Sustainable New Zealand Party
 |party votes   = 15
 |party percent = 0.05
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Heartland New Zealand Party
 |party votes   = 7
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
 |party votes   = 7
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand TEA Party
 |party votes   = 5
 |party percent = 0.01
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes       = 879
 |party votes = 417
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes       = 29,205
 |party votes = 29,882
}} 
{{MMP election box majority hold|
 |winner  = New Zealand Labour Party
 |votes   = 6,855
 |percent = 23.47
 |change = +3.52
}}

===2017 election===
{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref name="2017 election">{{cite web| url=http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-70.html |title=E9 Statistics – Electorate Status |access-date=17 December 2017 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent win|
 |party         =New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate     =[[Rino Tirikatene]]
 |votes         = 10,416
 |percentage    = 44.44
 |change        = +2.67
 |party votes   = 13,484
 |party percent = 55.80
 |party change  = +19.1
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |candidate     = [[Metiria Turei]]
 |votes         = 5,740
 |percentage    = 24.50
 |change        = +8.81
 |party votes   = 1,963
 |party percent = 8.12
 |party change  = –8.29
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Māori Party
 |candidate     = [[Mei Reedy-Taare]]
 |votes         = 4,915
 |change        = –3.22
 |percentage    = 20.97
 |party votes   = 2,030
 |party percent = 8.40
 |party change  = –2.79
}}
{{MMP election box candidate lose|
 |party         = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |candidate     = Emma-Jane Mihaere Kingi
 |votes         = 1,625
 |change        = +1.96
 |percentage    = 6.93
 |party votes   = 280
 |party percent = 1.16
 |party change  = –0.20
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand National Party
 |party votes   = 3,014
 |party percent = 12.47
 |party change  = –2.45
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand First
 |party votes   = 1,926
 |party percent = 7.80
 |party change  = –5.02
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = The Opportunities Party
 |party votes   = 944
 |party percent = 3.91
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Mana Party (New Zealand)
 |party votes   = 123
 |party percent = 0.51
 |party change  = –4.42{{efn|name=Mana Party|2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election}}
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Ban 1080 Party
 |party votes   = 58
 |party percent = 0.24
 |party change  = –0.24
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes   = 48
 |party percent = 0.20
 |party change  = +0.03
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand People's Party
 |party votes   = 20
 |party percent = 0.82
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Conservative Party (New Zealand)
 |party votes   = 18
 |party percent = 0.075
 |party change  = –0.68
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand Outdoors Party
 |party votes   = 11
 |party percent = 0.046
 |party change  = —
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = United Future
 |party votes   = 10
 |party percent = 0.041
 |party change  = –0.049
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = Internet Party (New Zealand)
 |party votes   = 6
 |party percent = 0.025
 |party change  = –4.905{{efn|name=Internet Party|2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election}}
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party         = New Zealand Democratic Party
 |party votes   = 5
 |party percent = 0.021
 |party change  = –0.5
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes       = 738
 |party votes = 226
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes       = 24,166
 |party votes = 23,434
}}
{{MMP election box majority hold|
 |winner  = New Zealand Labour Party
 |votes   = 4,676
 |percent = 19.95
 |change = +2.37
}}

===2014 election===
{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2014 New Zealand general election|2014 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref name="2014 election">{{cite web| url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-70.html |title=Official Count Results – Te Tai Tonga |date=10 December 2014 |access-date=7 December 2016 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent win|
 |party         =New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate     =[[Rino Tirikatene]]
 |votes         =8,445
 |percentage    = 41.77
 |change        = +1.15
 |party votes   =7,607
 |party percent = 36.70
 |party change  = –1.82
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Māori Party
 |candidate     =Ngaire Button
 |votes         =4,891
 |percentage    = 24.19
 |change        = –7.60
 |party votes   = 2,319
 |party percent = 11.19
 |party change  = –2.30
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |candidate     =Dora Roimata Langsbury
 |votes         =3,173
 |percentage    = 15.69
 |change        = +0.45
 |party votes   = 3,402
 |party percent = 16.41
 |party change  = +0.59
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Mana Party (New Zealand)
 |candidate     =[[Georgina Beyer]]
 |votes         =1,996
 |percentage    = 9.87
 |change        = +1.73
 |party votes   =
 |party percent = 
 |party change  = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |candidate     =Emma-Jane Mihaere Kingi
 |votes         =1,005
 |percentage    = 4.97
 |change        = +0.76
 |party votes   = 282
 |party percent = 1.36
 |party change  = +0.06
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand National Party
 |party votes = 2,977
 |party percent = 14.92
 |party change = –0.56
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand First
 |party votes = 2,657
 |party percent = 12.82
 |party change = +4.06
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Internet MANA
 |party votes = 1,021
 |party percent = 4.93
 |party change = –0.99{{efn|name=Internet Mana|2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for [[Mana Party (New Zealand)|Mana]] in 2011; it shared a party list with [[Internet Party (New Zealand)|Internet]] in the 2014 election.}}
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Conservative Party (New Zealand)
 |party votes = 153
 |party percent = 0.74
 |party change = +0.06
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Ban 1080
 |party votes = 99
 |party percent = 0.48
 |party change = +0.48
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes = 35
 |party percent = 0.17
 |party change = –0.01
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = United Future
 |party votes = 18
 |party percent = 0.09
 |party change = –0.15
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand Democratic Party
 |party votes = 15
 |party percent = 0.07
 |party change = –0.02
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = The Civilian Party
 |party votes = 9
 |party percent = 0.04
 |party change = +0.04
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = NZ Independent Coalition
 |party votes = 8
 |party percent = 0.04
 |party change = +0.04
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Focus New Zealand
 |party votes = 3
 |party percent = 0.01
 |party change = +0.01
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes = 545
 |party votes = 125
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes = 20,220
 |party votes = 20,730
}}
{{MMP election box majority hold|
 |winner =New Zealand Labour Party
 |votes =3,554
 |percent = 17.58
 |change = +8.75
}}

===2011 election===
{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2011 New Zealand general election|2011 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref name="2011 election">{{cite web| url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electorate-69.html |title=Official Count Results – Te Tai Tonga |date=10 December 2011 |access-date=3 October 2014 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]]}}</ref>
}}
{{MMP election box candidate win|
 |party         =New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate     =[[Rino Tirikatene]]
 |votes         =6,786
 |percentage    = 40.62
 |change        = –1.18
 |party votes   =6,791
 |party percent = 38.52
 |party change  = –11.06
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent lose|
 |party         =Māori Party
 |candidate     =[[Rahui Katene]]
 |votes         =5,311
 |percentage    = 31.79
 |change        = –15.51
 |party votes   =2,379
 |party percent = 13.49
 |party change  = –8.76
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |candidate     =Dora Roimata Langsbury
 |votes         =2,546
 |percentage    = 15.24
 |change        = +4.34
 |party votes   =2,789
 |party percent = 15.82
 |party change  = +8.61
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Mana Party (New Zealand)
 |candidate     =Clinton Dearlove
 |votes         =1,360
 |percentage    = 8.14
 |change        = +8.14
 |party votes   =1,043
 |party percent = 5.92
 |party change  = +5.92
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |candidate     =Emma-Jane Mihaere Kingi
 |votes         =703
 |percentage    = 4.21
 |change        = +4.21
 |party votes   =230
 |party percent = 1.30
 |party change  = +0.26
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand National Party
 |party votes = 2,631
 |party percent = 14.92
 |party change = +3.78
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand First
 |party votes = 1,544
 |party percent = 8.76
 |party change = +3.20
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Conservative Party (New Zealand)
 |party votes = 120
 |party percent = 0.68
 |party change = +0.68
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = United Future
 |party votes = 43
 |party percent = 0.24
 |party change = +0.05
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes = 32
 |party percent = 0.18
 |party change = –0.48
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand Democratic Party
 |party votes = 16
 |party percent = 0.09
 |party change = +0.06
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)
 |party votes = 7
 |party percent = 0.04
 |party change = –0.03
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Libertarianz
 |party votes = 4
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change = +0.003
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes = 840
 |party votes = 268
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes = 16,706
 |party votes = 17,629
}}
{{MMP election box majority gain|
 |winner =New Zealand Labour Party
 |loser =Māori Party
 |votes =1,475
 |percent = 8.83
 |change = +14.34
}}

'''Electorate''' (as at 26 November 2011): 31,933<ref name="enrolment">{{cite web |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/ages/ |title= Enrolment statistics |publisher= Electoral Commission |date= 26 November 2011 |access-date= 28 November 2011}}</ref>

===2008 election===
{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref>[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-69.html 2008 election results]</ref>}}
{{MMP election box candidate win|
 |party         =Māori Party
 |candidate     =[[Rahui Katene]]
 |votes         =9,011
 |percentage    = 47.30
 |change        = 
 |party votes   =4,414
 |party percent = 22.26
 |party change  = 
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent lose|
 |party         =New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate     =[[Mahara Okeroa]]
 |votes         =7,962
 |percentage    = 41.80
 |change        = 
 |party votes   =9,833
 |party percent = 49.58
 |party change  = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party         =Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
 |candidate     =Dora Roimata Langsbury
 |votes         =2,076
 |percentage    = 10.90
 |change        = 
 |party votes   =1,430
 |party percent = 7.21
 |party change  = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand National Party
 |party votes = 2,210
 |party percent = 11.14
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand First
 |party votes = 1,102
 |party percent = 5.56
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |party votes = 207
 |party percent = 1.04
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Bill and Ben Party
 |party votes = 158
 |party percent = 0.80
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes = 131
 |party percent = 0.66
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand Progressive Party
 |party votes = 122
 |party percent = 0.62
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = The Family Party
 |party votes = 76
 |party percent = 0.38
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = The Kiwi Party
 |party votes = 69
 |party percent = 0.35
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = United Future
 |party votes = 38
 |party percent = 0.19
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)
 |party votes = 14
 |party percent = 0.07
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Workers Party of New Zealand
 |party votes = 13
 |party percent = 0.07
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand Democratic Party
 |party votes = 6
 |party percent = 0.03
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Libertarianz
 |party votes = 4
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = New Zealand Pacific Party
 |party votes = 4
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Residents Action Movement
 |party votes = 2
 |party percent = 0.01
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = The Republic of New Zealand Party
 |party votes = 0
 |party percent = 0.00
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes = 656
 |party votes = 261
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes = 19,049
 |party votes = 19,833
}}

{{MMP election box majority gain|
 |winner = Māori Party
 |loser = New Zealand Labour Party
 |votes = 1,049
 |percent =5.51
 |change =
}}
<!---
See [[Template:MMP election box]] for documentation on these MMP templates
--->

===2005 election===

{{MMP election box begin |title=[[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 general election]]: Te Tai Tonga<ref>[http://www.electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-68.html 2005 election results]</ref>}}

{{MMP election box incumbent win|
|party = New Zealand Labour Party
|candidate = [[Mahara Okeroa]]
|votes = 9,015
|percentage = 47.23
|change = –15.94
|party votes = 11,485
|party percent = 57.89
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
|party = Māori Party
|candidate = Monte Ohia
|votes = 6,512
|percentage = 34.12
|change = +34.12
|party votes = 3,481
|party percent = 17.55
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate list|
|party = Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
|candidate = [[Metiria Turei]]
|votes = 2,296
|percentage = 12.03
|change = 
|party votes = 1,283
|party percent = 6.47
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
|party = Jim Anderton's Progressive Party
|candidate = Russell Caldwell
|votes = 705
|percentage = 3.69
|change = 
|party votes = 169
|party percent = 0.85
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
|party = Destiny New Zealand
|candidate = Maru Samuel
|votes = 559
|percentage = 2.93
|change = 
|party votes = 235
|party percent = 1.18
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = New Zealand National Party
|party votes = 1,462
|party percent = 7.37
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = New Zealand First
|party votes = 1,240
|party percent = 6.25
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = United Future
|party votes = 211
|party percent = 1.06
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
|party votes = 159
|party percent = 0.80
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = ACT New Zealand
|party votes = 58
|party percent = 0.29
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)
|party votes = 14
|party percent = 0.07
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = Christian Heritage New Zealand
|party votes = 9
|party percent = 0.05
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = New Zealand Democratic Party
|party votes = 8
|party percent = 0.04
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = New Zealand Family Rights Protection Party
|party votes = 7
|party percent = 0.04
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = Libertarianz
|party votes = 4
|party percent = 0.02
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = One New Zealand Party
|party votes = 4
|party percent = 0.02
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = 99 MP Party
|party votes = 3
|party percent = 0.02
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand
|party votes = 3
|party percent = 0.02
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
|party = The Republic of New Zealand Party
|party votes = 3
|party percent = 0.02
|party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
|votes = 655
|party votes = 322
}}

{{MMP election box total vote|
|votes = 19,087
|party votes = 19,838
}}
{{MMP election box majority hold|
|winner = New Zealand Labour Party
|votes = 2,503
|percent = 13.11
|change = –38.99
}}

===1999 election===
Refer to [[Candidates in the New Zealand general election 1999 by electorate#Te Tai Tonga]] for a list of candidates.

===1996 election===

{{MMP election box begin
|title=[[1996 New Zealand general election|1996 general election]]:  Te Tai Tonga<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/6.1%20Te%20Tai%20Tonga%2065.pdf|title=Electorate Candidate and Party Votes Recorded at Each Polling Place – Te Tai Tonga|access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.3%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Successful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208054410/http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.3%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Successful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf |date=8 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_1996/pdf/3.4%20Party%20Lists%20of%20Unsuccessful%20Registered%20Parties.pdf Party Lists of Unsuccessful Registered Parties]</ref>
}}
{{MMP election box candidate win|
 |party = New Zealand First
 |candidate = [[Tu Wyllie|Tutekawa Wyllie]]
 |votes = 7,657
 |percentage = 37.99
 |change =
 |party votes = 6,576
 |party percent = 32.47
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box incumbent lose|
 |party = New Zealand Labour Party
 |candidate = [[Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan]]
 |votes = 7,372
 |percentage = 36.58
 |change =
 |party votes = 7,167
 |party percent = 35.39
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party = Alliance (New Zealand political party)
 |candidate = Hone Kaiwai
 |votes = 1,916
 |percentage = 9.51
 |change =
 |party votes = 2,290
 |party percent = 11.31
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box independent|
 |candidate = [[Eva Rickard]]
 |votes = 1,220
 |percentage = 6.05
 |change = 
}}
{{MMP election box candidate|
 |party = New Zealand National Party
 |candidate = Cliff Bedwell
 |votes = 1,115
 |percentage = 5.53
 |change =
 |party votes = 1,732
 |party percent = 8.55
 |party change =
}}
{{MMP election box independent|
 |candidate = Honty Whaanga-Morris
 |votes = 873
 |percentage = 4.33
 |change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party
 |party votes = 896
 |party percent = 4.42
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Mana Māori Movement
 |party votes = 667
 |party percent = 3.29
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Christian Coalition (New Zealand)
 |party votes = 441
 |party percent = 2.18
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = ACT New Zealand
 |party votes = 232
 |party percent = 1.15
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = United New Zealand
 |party votes = 52
 |party percent = 0.26
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party =  McGillicuddy Serious Party
 |party votes = 37
 |party percent = 0.18
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #C96
 |party = [[Te Tawharau]]
 |party votes = 35
 |party percent = 0.17
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #399
 |party = [[Progressive Green Party (New Zealand)|Progressive Green]]
 |party votes = 33
 |party percent = 0.16
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Animals First
 |party votes = 28
 |party percent = 0.14
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #366
 |party = [[Green Society]]
 |party votes = 22
 |party percent = 0.11
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Natural Law Party of New Zealand
 |party votes = 12
 |party percent = 0.06
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #ABC
 |party = [[Superannuitants and Youth Action|Superannuitants & Youth]]
 |party votes = 9
 |party percent = 0.04
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #F93
 |party = [[Ethnic Minority Party of New Zealand|Ethnic Minority Party]]
 |party votes = 7
 |party percent = 0.03
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #007
 |party = [[New Zealand Conservative Party|Conservatives]]
 |party votes = 5
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box party only|
 |party = Libertarianz
 |party votes = 4
 |party percent = 0.02
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #ADC
 |party =  [[Advance New Zealand (1995)|Advance New Zealand]]
 |party votes = 3
 |party percent = 0.01
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box historic party only|
 |color = #3F9
 |party =  [[Asia Pacific United Party|Asia Pacific United]]
 |party votes = 2
 |party percent = 0.01
 |party change = 
}}
{{MMP election box informal vote|
 |votes = 279
 |party votes = 182
}}
{{MMP election box total vote|
 |votes = 20,153
 |party votes = 20,250
}}
{{MMP election box majority win|
 |winner = New Zealand First
 |loser = New Zealand Labour Party
 |votes = 285
 |percent = 1.41
 |change = 
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/electorate-profiles/te-tai-tonga-electorate-profile/ Electorate profile], New Zealand Parliament

{{electorates of New Zealand}}
{{coord|43.6000|S|172.0000|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

[[Category:Māori electorates]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in New Zealand]]