Barbara Edmonds won by 7,324 votes in 2023 — 3,662 voters switching to a challenger would have flipped Mana.
In the news
Coverage naming Mana or Barbara, from our tracked feeds.
No coverage naming Mana or its MP yet in our tracked feeds — this fills in automatically as outlets report on the race.
The roster
The defender's record, and who's confirmed to challenge them in 2026.
Won Mana by a majority of 7,324 in 2023 — a safe seat.
Barbara Rachael Fati Palepa Edmonds is a New Zealand politician. She was elected as the Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mana, representing the Labour Party, in 2020. She served as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister of Revenue and Minister for Economic Development in the final year of the Sixth Labour Government.
From Parliament's official bills record, as at 24 June 2026.
Members' bill in the ballot (1)
Parliamentary Budget Officer Bill
Written questions to Ministers this term
What is this, and why does it matter to you? Any MP can put a written question to a Minister to formally demand information on the record — the Minister must reply, usually within days. It costs nothing and needs no debate, which makes it the main day-to-day tool MPs use to hold the government accountable between bills — especially for opposition MPs, who can't pass laws but can still force information into the open. Which Ministers an MP questions most, below, is a real, numbers-based picture of what they're actually watching on your behalf — worth comparing against what they say they prioritise.
6,816written questions asked since the 2023 election
Where it's gone — by Minister
Associate Minister of Finance
1187
Minister of Finance
1101
Minister for Infrastructure
463
Minister of Health
137
+ 3928 more across other Ministers.
Recent questions and replies, in Barbara's and the Minister's own words
To the Minister of Finance · 2026-07-06
"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 29 June 2026, by title and date?"
Reply not yet due or not yet published.
To the Minister of Finance · 2026-07-06
"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 29 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"
Reply not yet due or not yet published.
To the Associate Minister of Finance · 2026-07-06
"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 29 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"
Reply not yet due or not yet published.
To the Associate Minister of Finance · 2026-06-29
"What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 22 June 2026, by title and date?"
Reply: With the exception of Cabinet Appointments and Honours (APH) papers and minutes, all Cabinet and Cabinet committee papers and minutes must be proactively released and published online within 30 business days of final decisions being taken by Cabinet, unless there is good reason not to publish all or part of the material, or to delay the release beyond 30 business days. It is my view that the application of additional resources to answer this and similar questions now is not a good use of taxpaye…
To the Associate Minister of Finance · 2026-06-29
"What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 22 June 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?"
Reply: My office receives a significant volume of information. To answer this question will require significant staff resources and I do not believe it is in the public interest to do so. If the member wishes to be more specific about the information he/she is seeking, I will endeavour to provide a response.
