Waiariki (New Zealand electorate)
Waiariki is a New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorate that was first established for the . Since the 2020 general election, it has been held by Māori Party MP Rawiri Waititi. Waiariki was an important electorate in the 2020 election as Waititi's win there allowed the Māori Party to re-enter Parliament and have two MPs despite not reaching 5% of the party vote. Population centres. The electorate includes the following population centres: In the 2013/14 redistribution, a minor boundary adjustment was undertaken. A small area, including the village of Tuia, was transferred to Waiariki from the  electorate. Tribal areas. The electorate includes the following tribal areas: History. The electorate was created for the . The first representative was Mita Ririnui of the Labour Party, with Tuariki Delamere (Te Tawharau) coming second, Arapeta Tahana (Alliance) coming third and Kahukore Baker (New Zealand First) coming fourth. In the , Ririnui was confirmed with 61.93% of the electorate vote. Rihi Vercoe and Hamuera Mitchell of Mana Māori and the National Party came second and third, respectively. In the , Ririnui was beaten by Te Ururoa Flavell of the Māori Party. Hawea Vercoe of Destiny New Zealand came a distant third. The was  contested by two contenders: the incumbent and Ririnui. Flavell was once again confirmed. The was contested by three contenders: Flavell, Annette Sykes of the Mana Party and Louis Te Kani of the Labour Party. Flavell had a comfortable lead over Sykes, with Te Kani coming third. In the , Flavell gained a much increased majority. Labour's Tāmati Coffey beat Flavell in . This left the Māori Party without any electorate seats, and consequently, no parliamentary representation as they had not reached the 5% party vote threshold required to enter Parliament without winning an electorate. The Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi won  the electorate back at the , which allowed the Māori Party to have two MPs. Members of Parliament. Key List MPs. Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Waiariki electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections. Election results. 2011 election. Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 33,240 2002 election.