Debbie Ngarewa-Packer won by 9,162 votes in 2023 — 4,581 voters switching to a challenger would have flipped Te Tai Hauāuru.
In the news
Coverage naming Te Tai Hauāuru or Debbie, from our tracked feeds.
No coverage naming Te Tai Hauāuru 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 Te Tai Hauāuru by a majority of 9,162 in 2023 — a safe seat.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is the Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauāuru and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori. First elected in 2020, she sits on the Health Committee and serves as a party whip.
From Parliament's official bills record, as at 24 June 2026.
Members' bill in the ballot (1)
Prohibition of Seabed Mining Legislation Amendment 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.
1,053written questions asked since the 2023 election
Where it's gone — by Minister
Minister of Health
237
Associate Minister of Health
67
Minister of Education
65
Minister responsible for RMA Reform
61
+ 623 more across other Ministers.
Recent questions and replies, in Debbie's and the Minister's own words
To the Minister of Transport · 2026-06-23
"Further to WPQ 28014, has the Minister asked Waka Kotahi to provide him with any feedback received from iwi, hapū, or local communities regarding safety risks on the Desert Road; if not, why not?"
Reply not yet due or not yet published.
To the Minister for Energy · 2026-06-23
"What advice, if any, did the Minister receive on the implications of discontinuing Crown funding for Ara Ake for achieving New Zealand's emissions-reduction targets?"
Reply not yet due or not yet published.
To the Minister of Transport · 2026-06-23
"Further to WPQ 28022, did the Minister request a copy of the assessment that concluded the Desert Road did not meet the threshold for average‑speed cameras; if not, why not?"
Reply not yet due or not yet published.
To the Minister for Energy · 2026-06-22
"What advice, if any, did the Minister receive regarding the impact of discontinuing Crown funding for Ara Ake on regional economic development in Taranaki?"
Reply: A list of the briefings I have received from MBIE is proactively available on the MBIE website. You can access this information at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/open-government-and-official-information/release-of-information.
To the Minister for Energy · 2026-06-22
"What advice, if any, did the Minister receive regarding the impact of discontinuing Crown funding for Ara Ake on the New Zealand's energy innovation ecosystem?"
Reply: A list of the briefings I have received from MBIE is proactively available on the MBIE website. You can access this information at https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/open-government-and-official-information/release-of-information.
