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Summarised by Centrist
Senior Labour MP Peeni Henare is leaving Parliament in the coming weeks after failing to secure Labour’s backing to contest the Tāmaki Makaurau seat again or win a place on the party list.
While Henare framed his departure as a personal decision following a “tough” year, Labour leader Chris Hipkins repeatedly declined to express confidence in Henare’s electoral prospects, refusing to say whether the party supported him standing again.
“Peeni has already announced that he didn’t put his name forward for the Tāmaki Makaurau nomination for Labour,” Hipkins said, adding that MPs “make their own decisions and own announcements about their futures”.
When pressed on whether Labour had confidence Henare could win the seat, Hipkins refused to answer, saying only: “I’m not going to be commenting further on the matter until Peeni himself has made further public comments on it.”
Henare lost the Tāmaki Makaurau seat to Te Pāti Māori in 2023, then again in last year’s byelection to Te Pāti Māori newcomer Oriini Kaipara. He described his failed campaign at the time as a “redemption journey”.
In his statement confirming his exit, Henare cited personal reasons. “After careful consideration and kōrero with my whānau over the break, I have decided that it is time for me to take a step back from politics,” he said, adding he wanted to focus on his wellbeing, family, and future.
Read more over at The NZ Herald
Image: Nevada.Halbert
