Te Pāti Māori – Party Overview
Last updated: 3 August 2026
Te Pāti Māori is a kaupapa Māori political movement founded to advance mana motuhake, tino rangatiratanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the wellbeing of whānau, hapū and iwi.
The party describes its policies as being derived from kaupapa tuku iho and intended to improve outcomes for Māori while contributing to the wellbeing of the wider country. Its central principles include Whānau Ora, mana motuhake, protection of taonga tuku iho, upholding Te Tiriti and recognising the status of tangata whenua.
Te Pāti Māori does not generally organise transport policy around a conventional argument about whether New Zealand should build more roads or more public transport.
Its wider political approach places greater emphasis on:
Whether whānau can access essential services.
Whether infrastructure investment is distributed fairly.
Whether rural and Māori communities remain connected.
Whether housing and transport are planned together.
Whether tangata whenua participate meaningfully in decisions.
Whether investment protects whenua, wai and communities.
Whether public services reflect the lived circumstances of the people using them.
Whether infrastructure strengthens or undermines mana motuhake.
That provides Te Pāti Māori with a distinct starting point in the transport debate.
For National and ACT, the discussion often begins with delivery, economic growth, regulation and road funding.
For Labour and the Greens, it more commonly begins with public investment, affordability, mode choice and emissions.
For Te Pāti Māori, transport is more likely to be considered as one part of a wider system determining access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, whenua, marae, whānau and economic opportunity.
This broader framing remains central to the existing Transport 2026 page and should be retained.
However, it is important not to mistake a broad political philosophy for a detailed transport manifesto.
Te Pāti Māori’s current policy platform contains several areas directly relevant to transport and infrastructure, including transport affordability, housing, Māori economic development, climate resilience and Māori political authority. Transport 2026 has not identified a dedicated 2026 transport document setting out detailed commitments for roads, rail, public transport, aviation, maritime transport, road-user charges or major infrastructure projects.
The current page therefore distinguishes between:
Confirmed party policy.
Public statements made by Te Pāti Māori.
Previous election positions.
Transport 2026 analysis of the likely transport implications.
Areas awaiting direct party clarification.
Leadership and Key People
Party Leadership
Te Pāti Māori is co-led by:
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer – Wāhine Co-Leader and MP for Te Tai Hauāuru.
Rawiri Waititi – Tāne Co-Leader and MP for Waiariki.
The party’s current parliamentary team also includes:
Oriini Kaipara – MP for Tāmaki Makaurau.
Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke – MP for Hauraki-Waikato.
Te Pāti Māori’s official website currently lists these four MPs as its parliamentary caucus.
The co-leaders remain the party’s most prominent national political figures.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has been particularly visible on climate, energy, environmental protection, planning and regional resilience.
Rawiri Waititi has focused strongly on mana motuhake, regional and community wellbeing, public services and Māori political authority.
Transport and Infrastructure Leadership
Oriini Kaipara – Te Pāti Māori portfolio holder for Transport and Infrastructure.
Kaipara’s other portfolios include:
Housing.
Small Business.
Employment and Training.
Sports and Recreation.
Māori Development.
She was elected to Parliament in 2025 as the MP for Tāmaki Makaurau and currently serves on Parliament’s Māori Affairs Committee.
The combination of Transport, Infrastructure and Housing is significant.
It allows transport to be considered alongside:
Where homes are built.
Whether new developments have adequate services.
Access to employment.
Small-business development.
Training and education.
Community facilities.
Urban and regional inequality.
That does not by itself establish a detailed policy position.
It does, however, indicate that Te Pāti Māori intends to approach transport as part of a wider social, economic and infrastructure system rather than treating it as an isolated technical portfolio.
Oriini Kaipara
Before entering Parliament, Oriini Kaipara was a journalist, broadcaster and cultural leader.
She has worked across Māori and mainstream television and served as Pouwhiringa, or Cultural Lead, for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Te Pāti Māori presents her as an advocate for rangatahi, women, kaumātua, whaikaha and vulnerable communities, with strong links to Hoani Waititi Marae and Tāmaki Makaurau.
Her appointment gives the party a clearly identified transport-facing MP.
The 2026 election campaign is likely to be the first national election in which Kaipara develops and presents Te Pāti Māori’s transport and infrastructure programme.
Te Pāti Māori Transport Policy and Direction
Te Pāti Māori’s transport direction can currently be understood through several broad themes:
Transport affordability.
Access to essential services.
Integration of housing and transport.
Regional and rural connectivity.
Māori participation in infrastructure planning.
Climate resilience.
Protection of whenua and wai.
Māori economic development and procurement.
Community-led public services.
Greater transparency during national emergencies.
These themes are supported by the party’s published policy platform and current public statements.
They do not yet amount to a comprehensive transport manifesto.
Current 2026 Policy Platform
Te Pāti Māori’s current policy platform is organised around wider areas such as:
Cost of living.
Housing.
Climate.
Economic development.
Mana motuhake.
Education and training.
Disability.
Freshwater.
Māori authority and governance.
Transport is specifically named within the cost-of-living section.
Infrastructure is also directly relevant to the housing, climate, economic-development and mana motuhake policies.
The platform does not currently contain a dedicated transport section comparable with the detailed transport manifestos published by National or the Green Party.
This means Te Pāti Māori has confirmed objectives but has not yet provided a full transport delivery programme.
Transport Affordability
The clearest direct transport commitment in Te Pāti Māori’s current platform is support for practical cost-of-living relief, including transport affordability.
The party argues that whānau should not be forced to choose between:
Food.
Rent.
Power.
Transport.
Medicine.
School costs.
Its position is that when basic services become unaffordable, the effects spread into health, education, stability and safety.
The commitment establishes transport affordability as a formal policy objective.
It does not yet identify how that objective would be delivered.
Possible policy tools could include:
Lower public-transport fares.
Free fares for selected groups.
Targeted travel assistance.
Greater rural public-transport funding.
School-transport expansion.
Support for community transport.
Assistance during fuel-price shocks.
Those measures should not be attributed to Te Pāti Māori unless the party confirms them.
Previous Election Position
Independent comparisons of the 2023 election recorded a Te Pāti Māori policy to provide free public transport for students.
The party’s current 2026 platform does not yet repeat that commitment in the same specific form. It should therefore be treated as a previous election position awaiting confirmation rather than an established 2026 promise.
The party should clarify:
Whether free student travel remains policy.
Which age groups would qualify.
Whether apprentices and trainees would be included.
Whether the policy would cover buses, trains and ferries.
How regional councils would be reimbursed.
Whether school transport would be included.
How the policy would operate in regions without public transport.
Public Transport
Te Pāti Māori has not yet published a detailed national public-transport programme for 2026.
The party’s affordability, disability, education, employment and regional-development policies all have direct public-transport implications.
Reliable public transport can affect whether people can reach:
Work.
Education.
Healthcare.
Government services.
Shops.
Whānau.
Cultural activities.
Sports.
Community facilities.
The absence of transport can be particularly serious for:
Lower-income households.
Young people.
Kaumātua.
Disabled people.
People without a driver licence.
Rural communities.
Households with only one vehicle.
People living far from employment or health services.
Te Pāti Māori’s current policy platform supports making public services more accessible, culturally safe and accountable.
It also supports removing barriers to education and training and improving support for disabled Māori.
Those wider commitments create a strong basis for public-transport policy.
However, the party has not yet set out:
Fare levels.
Service-frequency targets.
Fleet investment.
Urban rapid-transit priorities.
Regional bus networks.
Public or private service delivery.
National ticketing.
Total Mobility funding.
Public-transport emissions policy.
Funding responsibilities between councils and central government.
Regional and Rural Transport
Regional and rural access is likely to be one of the most important areas for Te Pāti Māori’s future transport policy.
Many communities face combinations of:
Long distances.
Limited public transport.
High fuel dependence.
Poor-quality roads.
Few healthcare services.
Reduced local employment.
Limited education options.
Weak digital connectivity.
Greater exposure to severe weather.
These issues are not experienced exclusively by Māori communities.
However, they can have a disproportionate effect in rohe where whānau are located far from large urban centres and where important services have become increasingly centralised.
Transport disadvantage can determine whether people can:
Attend medical appointments.
Remain in education.
Access employment.
Visit whānau.
Reach marae.
Participate in sport.
Obtain food and essential supplies.
Remain connected during emergencies.
Te Pāti Māori’s current platform emphasises connection, dignity and the ability of whānau to remain on and connected with their whenua.
A complete transport policy should explain whether the party supports:
National minimum regional bus services.
On-demand community transport.
Public funding for isolated routes.
Greater school-transport access.
Marae transport.
Health shuttles.
Regional passenger rail.
Rural road-resilience funding.
Community-owned services.
Māori transport authorities or commissioning organisations.
Housing, Urban Development and Transport
Housing and transport are closely connected.
The location and design of housing determine:
Travel distances.
Access to employment.
Public-transport viability.
Household fuel costs.
Infrastructure requirements.
Whether people can walk or cycle safely.
Whether communities remain connected.
Te Pāti Māori’s housing policy supports:
More public and affordable homes.
Easier development on Māori and ancestral land.
Action against speculation and land banking.
Building more homes on Māori land can require substantial supporting infrastructure, including:
Roads.
Bridges.
Water.
Electricity.
Telecommunications.
Public transport.
Emergency access.
Stormwater systems.
Māori land can be particularly difficult to develop because of ownership structures, finance barriers, infrastructure deficits and planning requirements.
A future Te Pāti Māori transport and infrastructure programme could therefore have significant relevance to papakāinga development.
The party should clarify whether it would provide:
Dedicated infrastructure funding for papakāinga.
Better road and public-transport connections.
Support for community energy.
Faster consenting.
Crown guarantees or finance.
Greater council co-investment.
Māori-led infrastructure planning.
These measures are logical policy questions arising from the party’s housing platform. They are not confirmed commitments unless separately announced.
Māori Authority in Transport and Infrastructure Planning
Mana motuhake is central to Te Pāti Māori’s political programme.
The party supports:
Te Tiriti-based constitutional change.
Stronger Māori political authority.
Māori governance structures.
Rangatiratanga over land and resources.
In transport and infrastructure, this raises questions about who participates in decisions involving:
Roads.
Rail.
Ports.
Airports.
Public transport.
Land acquisition.
Urban development.
Water.
Energy.
Coastal infrastructure.
Climate adaptation.
Te Pāti Māori is likely to argue that consultation after a project has largely been designed is not sufficient.
Its wider policy direction favours Māori participation from the beginning of the planning process and greater recognition of the authority of iwi, hapū and mana whenua.
Mana Whakahono ā Rohe
In July 2026, Te Pāti Māori criticised the Government’s reported decision to remove existing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe arrangements from the planning system.
These agreements provide a statutory framework through which councils and iwi can establish processes for participation in planning and resource-management decisions.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer argued that good planning depends on durable relationships with tangata whenua and that removing established pathways for engagement would create greater conflict rather than improve efficiency.
Although this statement was not specifically about transport, planning law directly affects:
Transport corridors.
Road designations.
Rail routes.
Port development.
Housing.
Energy.
Quarrying.
Environmental mitigation.
Infrastructure consenting.
Te Pāti Māori’s position indicates that it would favour retaining or strengthening formal Māori participation in those processes.
The party should explain whether it supports:
Joint planning bodies.
Statutory iwi agreements.
Co-governance of selected infrastructure.
Formal mana whenua representation.
Māori veto or consent rights in specified circumstances.
Dedicated funding for iwi participation.
Different arrangements for nationally significant projects.
Resource Management and Fast-Track Consenting
Te Pāti Māori has strongly criticised the Government’s fast-track consenting programme.
The party argues that faster approvals should not be achieved by excluding tangata whenua, weakening environmental protections or concentrating excessive power in ministers.
In November 2025, the party said an appropriate fast-track system would prioritise projects such as:
Housing.
Papakāinga.
Marae upgrades.
Māori-owned clean energy.
Climate adaptation.
It opposed using fast-track legislation primarily to advance extraction and development projects while reducing Te Tiriti and community safeguards.
This is a significant infrastructure position.
Te Pāti Māori is not necessarily opposed to faster consenting.
Its argument is that the type of project being accelerated, the people making the decision and the protections retained all matter.
A full policy should explain:
Which transport projects would qualify.
How mana whenua participation would be protected.
Whether nationally significant roads and rail could use fast-track processes.
Whether papakāinga infrastructure would receive priority.
How environmental limits would be defined.
Who would appoint decision-making panels.
Whether ministers or independent experts would make final decisions.
Infrastructure Investment
Te Pāti Māori’s current platform supports investment in:
Housing.
Māori-led institutions.
Māori enterprise.
Climate resilience.
Community infrastructure.
Education.
Health.
Economic development.
It has not yet released a detailed national infrastructure plan.
The party’s likely point of difference is not simply the amount spent but the way projects are selected and governed.
A Te Pāti Māori infrastructure framework may place greater weight on:
Historical underinvestment.
Community access.
Regional fairness.
Māori ownership.
Te Tiriti obligations.
Climate vulnerability.
Social outcomes.
Long-term intergenerational value.
Whānau and hapū participation.
Conventional infrastructure business cases often prioritise:
Travel-time savings.
Patronage.
Traffic volumes.
Commercial returns.
Land-value uplift.
National productivity.
Te Pāti Māori may argue that those methods can undervalue projects serving communities with smaller populations but significant social, cultural or resilience needs.
The party should clarify whether it would reform Treasury and NZTA investment-assessment methods to recognise a wider range of outcomes.
Roads and Road Maintenance
Te Pāti Māori has not released a detailed 2026 road programme.
No current project list has been identified setting out:
Which state highways the party would build.
Which Roads of National Significance it would support.
Which projects it would cancel.
Road-maintenance funding.
Rural-road priorities.
Speed-limit policy.
Road-policing policy.
Safety investment.
Tolling.
Roads remain essential for many of the communities Te Pāti Māori represents.
Rural and regional roads provide access to:
Marae.
Kura.
Healthcare.
Employment.
Farms.
Forestry.
Tourism.
Whānau.
Emergency services.
Community facilities.
A transport programme focused on access and equity would therefore still require substantial road investment.
The relevant questions are likely to include:
Whether roads remain open during severe weather.
Whether isolated communities receive sufficient maintenance.
Whether bridges and culverts are resilient.
Whether Māori communities are involved in route and safety decisions.
Whether road investment supports local housing and employment.
Whether project effects on whenua and wāhi tapu are properly addressed.
Te Pāti Māori should publish a road programme distinguishing:
New capacity.
Maintenance.
Safety.
Resilience.
Regional access.
Urban transport.
Road Safety
Te Pāti Māori has not yet released a complete 2026 road-safety policy.
A comprehensive programme could address:
Rural road conditions.
Speed management.
Safe school routes.
Driver training.
Licence access.
Drink and drug driving.
Road policing.
Vehicle safety.
Pedestrian infrastructure.
Cyclist safety.
Median barriers.
Intersection design.
Emergency response times.
Driver licensing is an important access issue.
People without a licence can face barriers to:
Employment.
Education.
Training.
Healthcare.
Whānau responsibilities.
This is particularly significant in communities without reliable public transport.
A Te Pāti Māori road-safety programme could connect driver education with employment, justice and rangatahi policy.
However, no detailed current commitment has yet been published.
Public Transport in Tāmaki Makaurau
Oriini Kaipara represents Tāmaki Makaurau, making Auckland transport a likely priority within her portfolio.
Auckland contains large Māori communities but also significant transport inequality.
Access can vary substantially according to:
Income.
Housing location.
Employment location.
Vehicle ownership.
Public-transport availability.
Disability.
Work hours.
Distance from rapid-transit corridors.
Many lower-income households have been pushed farther from central employment areas by housing costs.
That can increase:
Travel time.
Fuel costs.
Reliance on private vehicles.
Dependence on multiple public-transport connections.
Difficulty accessing shift work.
Pressure on household budgets.
Kaipara’s combined Housing and Transport portfolios create an opportunity for Te Pāti Māori to address those issues together.
The party has not yet confirmed its position on:
The Eastern Busway.
The Northwest Busway.
Auckland rapid transit.
Airport connections.
The second Waitematā Harbour crossing.
City Rail Link services.
Public-transport fares.
Auckland Transport governance.
Local-board transport powers.
Māori representation in regional transport planning.
Auckland Transport Governance
The National-led Government has transferred most transport planning, policy, road-control and capital-delivery responsibilities from Auckland Transport to Auckland Council.
Auckland Transport will remain as a smaller organisation focused mainly on public-transport delivery.
Te Pāti Māori has not released a detailed position on the new structure.
Its wider policies suggest it may assess the reform according to:
Whether Māori representation is protected.
Whether mana whenua participate meaningfully.
Whether local communities have greater authority.
Whether public-transport expertise is retained.
Whether housing and transport are better integrated.
Whether services become more accessible.
Whether the reform improves accountability.
The party should state whether it would:
Retain the new structure.
Change it.
Restore selected Auckland Transport functions.
Establish formal mana whenua participation.
Support Māori wards or appointed representatives.
Create a different regional transport body.
School and Kura Transport
Education access has strong transport implications.
Te Pāti Māori’s education policy supports:
Māori-led education authority.
Removing barriers to education and training.
Māori governance.
Greater support for Māori learning pathways.
Transport can be one of those barriers.
Students may struggle to attend:
Kura kaupapa Māori.
Wharekura.
Specialist programmes.
Tertiary education.
Trades training.
Wānanga.
Existing school-transport eligibility rules often focus on the nearest appropriate school.
That can create difficulties for whānau choosing kaupapa Māori education located outside their immediate area.
A current Te Pāti Māori policy should clarify:
Whether kura kaupapa routes would receive dedicated funding.
Whether nearest-school restrictions should change.
Whether students should be able to use spare seats.
Whether regional boarding and transport support should expand.
Whether public transport should be free for students.
How transport for disabled students would be improved.
Whether marae and community providers could operate services.
No detailed 2026 school-transport package has yet been identified.
Disability and Accessible Transport
Te Pāti Māori’s disability policy supports Māori-led services, easier access to support and systems that reflect whānau circumstances rather than rigid bureaucratic categories.
Accessible transport is fundamental to those objectives.
Policy areas include:
Total Mobility.
Wheelchair-accessible public transport.
Specialist school transport.
Community shuttles.
Accessible stations and stops.
Rural disability transport.
Information and booking systems.
Driver training.
Funding eligibility.
Te Pāti Māori has not yet published a specific accessible-transport programme.
Its wider policy suggests it may favour Māori-led commissioning and stronger community control over disability services.
The party should clarify whether this would include Māori-designed or Māori-operated transport services.
Rail
Te Pāti Māori has not released a detailed national rail policy for the 2026 election.
The party has not yet stated its position on:
KiwiRail investment.
Freight rail.
Metropolitan rail.
Regional passenger rail.
Auckland-to-Hamilton services.
Tauranga rail.
Lower North Island trains.
Christchurch-to-Dunedin passenger rail.
The Marsden Point rail link.
Cook Strait rail-enabled ferries.
Māori participation in rail-corridor development.
Rail may align with several Te Pāti Māori priorities because it can support:
Regional connectivity.
Lower-emission freight.
Economic development.
Port access.
Public transport.
National resilience.
Rail projects can also affect Māori land, wāhi tapu, waterways and settlement interests.
A complete policy should therefore address both infrastructure investment and decision-making authority.
Climate Resilience
Climate resilience is one of Te Pāti Māori’s clearest infrastructure positions.
The party’s current climate policy supports:
Protecting whenua and moana.
Banning seabed mining.
Investment in resilience for communities at greatest risk.
Regenerative and sustainable approaches aligned with Māori values.
Transport infrastructure is increasingly exposed to:
Flooding.
Coastal erosion.
Landslides.
Severe storms.
Bridge failure.
Culvert failure.
Road washouts.
Heat.
Sea-level rise.
The effect of transport disruption can be particularly severe for isolated communities with only one practical route.
A resilience programme could involve:
Strengthening vulnerable roads.
Replacing bridges.
Improving drainage.
Protecting coastal routes.
Creating alternative access.
Improving emergency transport.
Supporting marae as emergency centres.
Better local fuel and energy resilience.
Community-led adaptation plans.
Te Pāti Māori has not yet published a transport-specific list of priority resilience projects.
However, its wider climate policy clearly establishes resilience for vulnerable communities as a formal objective.
Energy and Transport
Te Pāti Māori opposes energy policies it believes increase dependence on overseas fossil-fuel suppliers.
In June 2026, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer criticised the Government’s proposed LNG arrangement, arguing that importing liquefied natural gas from overseas would deepen energy dependence rather than provide genuine security.
The party’s wider climate and economic policies support:
Māori-led clean energy.
Protection of whenua and moana.
Community resilience.
Sustainable development.
Māori enterprise.
Earlier 2023 policy comparisons recorded support for a national Māori strategy for renewable energy and clean technology. That earlier position should be reconfirmed for 2026.
Transport relevance includes:
Electric-vehicle charging.
Electric buses.
Community energy.
Depot and marae charging.
Renewable electricity.
Alternative fuels.
Reduced dependence on imported oil.
Te Pāti Māori has not yet published detailed current policy on:
Electric-vehicle incentives.
Charging infrastructure.
Clean Car standards.
Heavy-vehicle transition.
Biofuels.
Hydrogen.
Aviation fuel.
Maritime fuel.
Fossil-fuel vehicle imports.
Fuel Security
Te Pāti Māori became directly involved in the transport and fuel debate during the 2026 fuel-supply disruption.
In April, the party called for the immediate publication of real-time onshore fuel data.
It argued that available figures were too old and included fuel still at sea, potentially overstating the supply actually available within New Zealand.
The party also called for:
Moving to Phase 2 of the National Fuel Plan.
Parliament to operate online temporarily to reduce fuel demand.
A cross-party response.
Greater protection for rural and other affected communities.
This was not a complete long-term fuel-security policy.
It did, however, establish several principles:
Government fuel information should be current and transparent.
Onshore supply should be distinguished from fuel still in transit.
Rural communities should not be overlooked.
Emergency planning should involve multiple parties.
Demand reduction may form part of an emergency response.
Te Pāti Māori still needs to clarify its position on:
Strategic fuel reserves.
Marsden Point.
Domestic refining.
Fuel rationing.
Essential-user priority.
Renewable fuels.
Fuel-price relief.
Regional storage.
Energy independence.
Road-User Charges and Fuel Excise
Te Pāti Māori has not released a detailed 2026 policy on road-user charges or fuel excise.
The transition toward electronic RUC raises important questions for its cost-of-living and regional-access policies.
A distance-based system could affect people differently according to:
Where they live.
Distance from work.
Public-transport availability.
Vehicle weight.
Household income.
Road quality.
Access to services.
Rural households may travel longer distances because essential services are more widely dispersed.
Lower-income households may also own older or heavier vehicles because those are the vehicles they can afford.
A Te Pāti Māori RUC policy would need to explain:
Whether rates should vary by income.
Whether rural users should receive recognition.
How privacy would be protected.
Whether charges should be paid in advance or arrears.
How administration costs would be controlled.
Whether electric vehicles should pay the same rates.
How commercial and community transport would be treated.
Whether revenue would be distributed more fairly to regions.
Tolling and Time-of-Use Charging
Te Pāti Māori has not published a formal current position on:
Toll roads.
Congestion charging.
Time-of-use road pricing.
Tolling existing routes.
Public-private road concessions.
These policies raise particular equity questions.
A road charge may encourage some people to travel at a different time or use public transport.
Others may have no practical alternative because of:
Shift work.
Disability.
School schedules.
Rural location.
Limited public transport.
Caring responsibilities.
Employment location.
A Te Pāti Māori policy should explain whether charging schemes must include:
Public-transport improvements.
Low-income assistance.
Community consultation.
Māori participation.
Exemptions.
Regional revenue retention.
Privacy protection.
Equity assessment.
Māori Economic Development and Procurement
Te Pāti Māori’s economic-development policy supports:
Māori-led institutions.
Māori enterprise.
Trade and innovation.
Long-term Māori wealth.
Māori data sovereignty.
Transport and infrastructure procurement represent significant areas of government spending.
The party may seek greater recognition for:
Māori-owned businesses.
Iwi investment.
Local employment.
Rangatahi training.
Apprenticeships.
Cultural capability.
Community outcomes.
Māori data and intellectual property.
Long-term partnerships.
A procurement policy could influence:
Construction.
Engineering.
Public transport.
Road maintenance.
Rail.
Ports.
Energy.
Community transport.
Infrastructure planning.
Te Pāti Māori has not yet released detailed rules stating:
What weighting Māori ownership would receive.
Whether contracts would be reserved.
How value for money would be measured.
How smaller businesses would participate.
How international trade obligations would be treated.
How performance would be monitored.
Aviation
Te Pāti Māori has not published a detailed standalone aviation policy for 2026.
Aviation is relevant to:
Regional access.
Tourism.
Māori economic development.
Healthcare.
Emergency response.
Remote communities.
International connection.
Climate emissions.
The party should clarify its position on:
Regional air services.
Airport infrastructure.
Māori ownership and investment.
Airport land and Treaty interests.
Aviation emissions.
Sustainable aviation fuel.
Regional-route subsidies.
Drone and advanced aviation technology.
Passenger access and affordability.
Maritime Transport, Ports and Coastal Infrastructure
Te Pāti Māori’s environmental policies strongly emphasise protection of the moana and opposition to seabed mining.
The party has not released a detailed maritime transport or port policy.
A complete programme should address:
Cook Strait ferries.
Coastal shipping.
Port development.
Māori interests in coastal areas.
Maritime employment.
Regional ports.
Freight resilience.
Ship emissions.
Marine protection.
Emergency supply chains.
Port and maritime development can create jobs and improve supply chains.
It can also affect:
Customary rights.
Fisheries.
Coastal ecosystems.
Wāhi tapu.
Iwi development interests.
Settlement obligations.
Te Pāti Māori’s likely point of difference would be the level of Māori authority and environmental protection within project design.
That remains an inference until the party releases formal policy.
Te Tiriti and Infrastructure Decision-Making
Te Pāti Māori’s current political programme includes entrenching and strengthening Te Tiriti protections.
The party has opposed government moves to remove or weaken Te Tiriti references in legislation and has said it would restore stronger Māori authority and partnership mechanisms.
Transport legislation can involve Te Tiriti through:
Resource management.
Local government.
Land acquisition.
Environmental protection.
Heritage.
Public consultation.
Infrastructure governance.
Crown–Māori relationships.
The party should clarify whether its transport policy would include:
Mandatory Te Tiriti provisions in transport legislation.
Co-governance of selected assets.
Mana whenua representation on transport bodies.
Māori participation in infrastructure commissions.
Stronger consultation requirements.
Māori rights in project design and land use.
Greater recognition of cultural and environmental effects.
Previous Election Context
Te Pāti Māori did not enter the 2023 election with a single consolidated transport manifesto comparable with the major parties.
Transport positions were spread across policies involving:
Students.
Climate.
Energy.
Disability.
Housing.
Māori economic development.
Community access.
Independent election comparisons recorded policies including free public transport for students and a national Māori strategy for renewable energy and clean technology.
Those policies remain relevant historical context.
They should not automatically be presented as confirmed 2026 commitments until Te Pāti Māori republishes or reconfirms them.
What Has Been Announced for the 2026 Election Cycle?
The principal current transport and infrastructure-relevant developments are:
Oriini Kaipara has been appointed to the Transport and Infrastructure portfolios.
The current policy platform explicitly includes transport affordability.
Housing policy supports public and affordable housing and easier development on Māori land.
Climate policy supports resilience investment for communities at greatest risk.
Mana motuhake policy supports stronger Māori political authority.
Economic policy supports Māori-led institutions and enterprise.
Te Pāti Māori has opposed the removal of formal iwi participation from planning.
The party has criticised fast-track processes that reduce Māori and community involvement.
It has supported accelerating housing, papakāinga, marae, Māori clean-energy and climate-adaptation projects.
It called for real-time fuel information and stronger emergency action during the 2026 supply disruption.
These positions form a meaningful transport and infrastructure direction.
They do not yet provide a complete project, funding or delivery programme.
What Is Still Unclear Ahead of the Election?
Te Pāti Māori still needs to provide detailed policy on:
Public-transport fares.
Public-transport service funding.
Urban rapid transit.
Rural and interregional buses.
School and kura transport.
Total Mobility.
Roads of National Significance.
Road maintenance.
Regional road resilience.
Road safety.
Driver licensing.
Passenger rail.
Freight rail.
KiwiRail.
Cook Strait ferries.
Coastal shipping.
Ports.
Aviation.
Auckland transport.
RUC.
Fuel excise.
Tolling.
Time-of-use charging.
Electric vehicles.
Heavy-vehicle transition.
Fuel security.
Strategic reserves.
Māori procurement.
Infrastructure funding.
Local-government transport.
Te Tiriti provisions in transport law.
The role of iwi and mana whenua in major project governance.
Transport Spokesperson: Current and Historical
Oriini Kaipara
Oriini Kaipara is Te Pāti Māori’s current Transport and Infrastructure portfolio holder.
She is the principal party contact for the development of its transport and infrastructure platform.
Because she entered Parliament in 2025, her transport role is relatively new.
The 2026 campaign is likely to be the first full election cycle in which she presents a national transport programme.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is the party’s wāhine co-leader.
Her work on climate, energy, fuel security, planning, environmental protection and iwi participation has significant transport and infrastructure relevance.
Rawiri Waititi
Rawiri Waititi is the party’s tāne co-leader.
His wider political focus on mana motuhake, regional communities and public services is relevant to infrastructure access and regional investment.
Frequently Asked Questions – Te Pāti Māori Transport Policy
Who is Te Pāti Māori’s transport spokesperson?
Oriini Kaipara holds the party’s Transport and Infrastructure portfolios.
What electorate does Oriini Kaipara represent?
She is the MP for Tāmaki Makaurau.
What other portfolios does she hold?
Her portfolios include Housing, Small Business, Employment and Training, Sports and Recreation, and Māori Development.
Who leads Te Pāti Māori?
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi are the party’s co-leaders.
Has Te Pāti Māori released a complete 2026 transport manifesto?
No. Its current policy platform contains several transport and infrastructure-relevant commitments, but a dedicated comprehensive transport manifesto has not yet been identified.
What is the party’s main confirmed transport policy?
Its current platform explicitly supports practical cost-of-living relief, including transport affordability.
Does Te Pāti Māori support free public transport?
Its 2023 policy was reported as supporting free public transport for students. The party has not yet clearly reconfirmed that specific commitment for 2026.
What is Te Pāti Māori’s position on public transport?
The party supports affordability and accessible public services, but detailed policies on fares, frequency, fleet funding and service delivery have not yet been published.
Does Te Pāti Māori support roads?
The party has not published a project-by-project road programme. Its focus on regional access, housing and community resilience implies an ongoing need for road maintenance and investment, but exact priorities remain unconfirmed.
What is its position on rail?
A detailed national passenger or freight rail policy has not yet been released.
What is Te Pāti Māori’s infrastructure philosophy?
Its current direction emphasises Te Tiriti, Māori authority, community access, climate resilience, housing, regional fairness and Māori economic development.
What is the party’s position on infrastructure consenting?
It supports faster development for housing, papakāinga, marae, Māori clean energy and climate adaptation but opposes fast-track processes that weaken Te Tiriti and community safeguards.
What is Te Pāti Māori’s fuel-security position?
During the 2026 disruption, it called for real-time onshore fuel data, stronger emergency action, reduced demand and a cross-party response. A permanent long-term fuel-security policy has not yet been published.
Does Te Pāti Māori support electronic RUC?
The party has not released a detailed position on the proposed fleet-wide electronic road-user-charge system.
Does it support congestion charging or tolls?
No detailed current policy has been published.
What is the party’s climate-resilience policy?
It supports investment in climate resilience for communities at greatest risk and protection of whenua and moana.
How would Te Pāti Māori involve Māori in transport decisions?
The party supports stronger Māori political authority and formal pathways for iwi and hapū participation. The exact model for transport agencies and major projects still requires clarification.
Contact and Interview Status
As part of Transport 2026, engagement has been sought or may be sought with Te Pāti Māori and Oriini Kaipara regarding the party’s transport and infrastructure priorities.
At the time of this update, Transport 2026 has not completed a formal interview with Oriini Kaipara or another authorised Te Pāti Māori representative.
Te Pāti Māori will be invited to:
Review the factual record.
Correct errors or omissions.
Publish its complete transport and infrastructure programme.
Confirm whether free student public transport remains policy.
Explain how transport affordability would be delivered.
Provide its road and rail priorities.
Clarify its position on RUC, tolling and congestion charging.
Release its public-transport and regional-access policy.
Explain how kura and marae transport would be supported.
Provide its aviation and maritime policies.
Clarify the role of iwi and mana whenua in infrastructure governance.
Explain how Māori-owned businesses would participate in procurement.
Identify its first-term transport priorities.
Any attributable response or formal policy document will be incorporated into a future update.
Related Transport 2026 Pages
Transport 2026: New Zealand’s Transport Outlook
The main overview page for Kiwi Coaches’ Transport 2026 project, bringing together election context, industry pressures, infrastructure issues, and the key transport debates shaping New Zealand ahead of the 2026 General Election.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/transport-2026-nz-transport-outlook
Transport 2026 News
The live news, commentary, and analysis page for the Transport 2026 project, covering fuel prices, transport politics, infrastructure developments, operator issues, and wider election-related transport stories.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/transport-2026-news
Transport 2026: Infrastructure Tracker
A factual tracker of major transport and infrastructure projects across New Zealand, helping separate what is funded, under way, delayed, proposed, or politically announced ahead of the election.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/transport-2026-infrastructure-tracker
ACT New Zealand – Transport Policy 2026
Kiwi Coaches’ overview of ACT’s transport and infrastructure direction, including funding reform, user-pays principles, tolling, infrastructure planning, and current party transport leadership.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/act-new-zealand-2026-transport
Green Party – Transport Policy 2026
A summary of the Green Party’s current transport direction, including public transport, rail, active modes, emissions reduction, and the party’s wider approach to mobility and access.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/green-party-transport-2026
National Party – Transport Policy 2026
An overview of National’s current transport and infrastructure direction, including delivery priorities, major projects, economic growth, and the government’s broader transport approach.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/national-party-transport-2026
New Zealand First – Transport Policy 2026
A Kiwi Coaches profile of New Zealand First’s transport direction, with attention to regional access, practical delivery, accountability, and current transport-relevant leadership.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/nz-first-transport-2026
Labour Party – Transport Policy 2026
Kiwi Coaches’ current overview of Labour’s transport position, including public transport, infrastructure funding, rail, integrated planning, and the party’s likely transport priorities heading into the 2026 election.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/labour-party-2026-transport
The Opportunity Party – Transport Policy 2026
A Kiwi Coaches overview of The Opportunity Party’s current transport direction, including free public transport, long-term infrastructure planning, electrification, energy, and practical transport-system reform.
https://www.kiwicoaches.co.nz/the-opportunity-party-2026-transport
Kiwi Coaches Transport 2026 Note
This page forms part of Kiwi Coaches’ wider Transport 2026 project, which aims to build a factual, accessible, and transport-focused reference point on the major political parties, spokespeople, and policy directions shaping transport in New Zealand ahead of the 2026 election.